by Dan Scully
Published October 25th, 2021
Freshman goaltender Sarah Coe makes a save.
(Photo credit Ariana Shchuka/RIT Athletic Communications)
News and Notes
- The Tigers were last in action Saturday, October 16th at Blue Cross Arena in an exhibition against Cornell. The game was scheduled to be played at the Gene Polisseni Center, but an ammonia leak necessitated the change in venue.
- The original schedule for the week of October 18th was a home-and-home Thursday the 21st and Saturday the 23rd. The ammonia leak pushed Thursday’s contest at Polisseni to Tuesday, November 23rd, while Saturday’s game at St. Lawrence was moved ahead to Friday.
- The Tigers increased their shot-blocking lead in College Hockey America, getting in the way of 12 pucks Friday.
- Out of seven games played, freshman goaltender Sarah Coe has made 30+ saves in six. Coe’s only game with fewer was in the season opener against Mercyhurst, where she logged 15 saves in 31:15.
- Coe was named an honorable mention for both the CHA Goaltender of the Week and Rookie of the Week awards, honors won by G Ena Nystrøm of Mercyhurst and F Morgan Neitzke of Lindenwood, respectively.
The RIT Tigers lost their eighth straight game on Friday, defeated by the St. Lawrence Saints by a score of 3-0.
Behind the Bench
Coach Celeste Brown said the Tigers’ game plan was not different in their exhibition than a normal game, emphasizing it was another chance to get better against a top 10 team. She noted the quick response the Tigers gave to going down 0-1 in that game as a big positive.
On the subject of who has stood out so far this season, Brown mentioned F Abby Davies and her ability to generate offense while also having a heavy defensive presence; F Lindsay Maloney and F Emma Roland, noting their offensive production as well as calling Maloney a full-ice player; and G Sarah Coe, saying she “keeps us in the game until we’re not in it anymore.”
Northward
The Tigers made the trip to St. Lawrence on Friday. The Saints applied heavy pressure for much of the first, taking the lead a tick over the halfway mark as F Aly McLeod scored a power play goal on assists from D Kristina Bahl and F Abby Hustler. The Tigers would have a pair of power play opportunities late in the first and running over into the second, including 49 seconds of 5-on-3, but they could not capitalize.
The second would be nearly all Saints, as the Tigers had only three shot attempts resulting in one shot off-target and two blocks. The Saints could not use their two power plays in the second to double their lead, and so the second period closed without a goal for either side.
The Saints would again pressure the Tigers early in the third and would draw another penalty, converting on the ensuing power play as F Shailynn Snow scored at 2:37 on assists from D Rachel Teslak and F Nara Elia, making the score 2-0 Saints. The Tigers would respond with pressure of their own, but it was short-lived and did not produce a tally. The Saints would draw another penalty just past halfway, converting on this opportunity as well with McLeod scoring on assists from F Chloé Puddifant and Hustler. This would be the final goal of the contest, despite another Saints’ power play with just under three minutes to play.
The Tigers did not allow an even-strength goal in the contest, only being scored on while shorthanded. The Saints were 3-for-6 on the power play, while the Tigers went 0-for-2. The Saints split time for their goaltenders, with Caitlin Whitehead starting the game and earning the win with 29:22 played, saving all six shots faced. She was relieved by Jaimie Rainville, who recorded 30:03 in net, saving all seven shots she faced. Coe played all 60 minutes for the Tigers, saving 34 of 37 shots (.919).
The Ice is Back!
The Tigers face St. Thomas in a pair of non-conference games at the Gene Polisseni Center on Friday and Saturday, October 29th and 30th. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 PM and 1 PM, respectively. As a reminder, tickets to women’s hockey games are free to RIT students, alumni, staff, and faculty with their valid RIT ID! See RITTickets.com for further ticket details.
Photo obtained from RITAthletics.com; photo credit Ariana Shchuka
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