NEWHA Roundup: Dec. 5-10, 2024

The last full conference NEWHA roundup of 2024 is here! This week, yet again, Post has been making some noise in-conference – and this time they’ve got a win under their belt. LIU is the only team playing this weekend, and they’ve got an entertaining contest with Robert Morris on tap. Plus, some new faces and some familiar ones take part in the weekly awards. Let’s get into the last recap of the year, shall we? 

Series Rewind: Post keeps things rolling with five point weekend over Sacred Heart

For the first time in program history, Post not only beat Sacred Heart at home, but they also swept a weekend series from the Pioneers with a 3-0 win on Friday and a shootout win on Saturday in the 1-1 tie. 

Backstopped by two outstanding performances from junior goaltender Hannah Saunders, the Eagles took five of a possible six points on the weekend – against the current conference leaders no less. 

In the first game of the series, Post started early with a power play goal courtesy of rookie Rowyn Ringor just 8:12 into the game. Julia Wysocki – who’s tied with Ringor for the team lead in points with 12 – and Caisey Van Den Oetelaar added assists on the play. The Eagles weren’t done in the first, however, as they added their second short handed goal of the season courtesy of Celena Mickevicius, who fired it home on a breakaway. 

Mickevicius’ short handed goal came on a five minute major that SHU was benefitting from. Wysocki, soon after her assist on the opening goal, hit Sacred Heart first year forward Ally Cohen hard along the boards. It was determined that Wysocki’s shoulder connected with Cohen’s head, resulting in a game misconduct for the Eagle and a five minute power play for the Pioneers.

The Eagles, their blocked shot prowess, and Saunders in particular, kept the Pioneers from converting on the major opportunity. By the end of the first period the Eagles were outshot 13-6, but had the 2-0 advantage on the scoresheet. 

The second period was identical in terms of shot production for the teams, but both Saunders and SHU’s Lauren Larson turned away all the shots they saw in the middle frame. 

Thirty seconds into the third period, Ringor added the dagger for Post with her second of the game. The freshman beat Larson from the right side off a feed from Mickevicius who added her second point of the game with the assist. 

Sacred Heart tried desperately to get back into the game, adding 20 more shots to their total for a final tally of 46. Saunders however was steadfast, and finished the night with her third shutout of the season. 

On Saturday, it took until the second period for anyone to find the back of the net, and it was Wysocki returning to the lineup who got the tally for the Eagles. A neutral zone turnover allowed Mickevicius to find Wysocki for the back-handed score to make it 1-0 with 11:58 remaining in the second. 

Saunders was once again a brick wall for the majority of the game. The netminder was perfect for Post until the third period. 

Overall this weekend, the Pioneers power play went just 1-for-7 against the Post penalty kill that was operating at a 84.2% success rate heading into the two contests. The one was their lone goal of the weekend, after a rebound opportunity given up by Saunders found Ella Holm in front of the net. The first year wasted no time in tying the contest to finally get the Pioneers on the board after being frustrated all weekend to that point. 

The score remained tied for the remainder of regulation and in the overtime period, sending the teams to the shootout. In the four round SO, only sophomore forward Noa Faberman was able to find the back of the net. Following the Post score, Saunders turned away the chance from Paige McNeil to secure the extra point for the Eagles, and to secure the first sweep of SHU in Post program history. 

Sacred Heart is now winless in their last five games after starting the season 11-2-1. Three games out of conference against Quinnipiac and UConn don’t help, but the back-to-back loss and tie against Post is tough to sit on until their next game on Jan. 8th against Brown (ECAC). 

Last week, I noted how Post has been able to keep things close in the majority of their contests. This weekend showed just how disruptive the team can be. They’re now off for a few weeks before returning to the ice against the AHA’s RIT on Jan. 3rd. 

Also – if you don’t have an eye on Rowyn Ringor moving through the end of the year, I don’t really know what to tell you. The freshman is now up to six goals and 12 points in 19 games played, tied for the highest in both marks on the team. 

Weekly Awards:

Player of the Week: Grace Babington, F, LIU – Sophomore

In a weekend where LIU needed a hero in overtime in both of their games, Babington was the one who stepped up, as she buried both game-winners in extra time against Saint Anselm. The sophomore had nine shots on goal over the series as well, and is now second on the team in scoring with 10 points (five goals, five assists). 

Defensive Player of the Week: Julia Stevens, D, Franklin Pierce – Senior

In the weekend shutouts over Saint Michael’s, Stevens provided scoring from the back-end for FPI. The senior had a goal and two assists over the weekend, including the game-winner in Saturday’s 3-0 victory. She also added a blocked shot in that Saturday game to go along with her +1 rating. 

Goaltender of the Week: Hannah Saunders, G, Post – Junior

In the series against Sacred Heart, Saunders was lights out. The junior has had an outstanding season, with a .945 save percentage in 13 starts so far. That continued over the weekend, with her 46 save shutout on Friday and a 30 save performance in the tie on Saturday. Saunders hasn’t allowed more than three goals in a game since Oct. 5th, and is now sixth nationally in save percentage. 

Rookie of the Week: Heather Ajakie, F, Assumption – Freshman

With her goals in both games against Stonehill this weekend, Ajakie is riding a six-game point streak into the break. The freshman opened the scoring for Assumption in both games this weekend, and was the only one to find the back of the net in the shootout on Saturday. Ajakie is now up to nine points this season, the most out of any player on the Assumption roster. 

Complete Scoreboard: 

Thursday: 

LIU 4 vs. Saint Anselm 3 – OT 

Friday: 

Post 3 vs. Sacred Heart 0 

Franklin Pierce 5 vs. Saint Michael’s 0 

Assumption 2 vs. Stonehill 1 

Saturday: 

Franklin Pierce 3 vs. Saint Michael’s 0 

Post 1 at Sacred Heart 1 – 1-0 Post win in SO

Assumption 2 vs. Stonehill 2 – 1-0 Assumption win in SO

Tuesday: 

Princeton (ECAC) 4 at LIU 2

What to Watch: Last Series of the Year

LIU vs. Robert Morris – Friday at 3 PM, Saturday at 2 PM

It’ll be the first time in history these two programs will meet one another this weekend, and it’ll be on two completely different momentums. 

Since Robert Morris’ weekend sweep of Saint Anselm on Oct. 25th and 26th, the Colonials are on an eight game winless streak. 

LIU, on the other hand, has had a bit more success in the same time frame against their conference opponents, although out of conference the Sharks have had their struggles as well. Most recently, earlier this week, they dropped a matinee contest to Princeton 4-2 on Tuesday. 

Offensively, LIU has the slight edge with a 2.2 goals per game average to a measly 1.7 for RMU. The biggest jump is the defensive numbers the Sharks have compared to the Colonials. 

On average this season, the Sharks allow just 1.94 goals per game, with starting netminder Abbie Thompson sporting a .928 SV% in her 15 starts this season. The team also restricts their opponents to a 28.2 shots per game average, while averaging 32.5 shots themselves. 

The Colonials on the other hand have struggled both offensively and defensively. To go along with their struggles to score, it’s caused by the team’s inability to get their own shots on goal totals up. The team averages just 23.8 shots per game, and gives up over 40 per game on average. Their 69.7 penalty killing percentage is fifth-worse in the NCAA, and their 10.5 power play percentage doesn’t help them much either. 

You can’t blame it on the goaltending either. Both starting netminder Maggie Hatch and backup Lucy Phillips have respectable numbers this season, with a .926 and a .909 respectively in 18 combined starts. 

Now, I know what you’re thinking – so the Sharks should run the Colonials out of the building with their higher ability to score and solid goaltending, right? 

I’m not saying that’s wrong, I’m just saying it’s not as likely as it might seem. 

The difference between the strength of schedule for these two teams is evident. While LIU has been playing a tough out of conference schedule with games against teams such as Quinnipiac, Princeton, and Minnesota State Mankato, their in-conference opponents are not as difficult as the teams in Atlantic Hockey America. 

RMU played four straight games this season against nationally ranked opponents in Princeton and Clarkson. In AHA action, they’ve also seen Mercyhurst, who has been ranked or receiving votes at points this fall, and Penn State, a perennial staple in the national top-15. 

Their record speaks for itself, but considering how well RMU played against Saint Anselm, the difficulty LIU will face this weekend in their quest for a win is high. 

Would I be surprised if LIU does end up coming away with a win? Maybe a bit, but I’ve seen wilder. Would I be surprised if they get run out of their own building? Honestly, yeah, I would. Would I be surprised if RMU sweeps this set? No, not at all. It should be an interesting series regardless, especially if the LIU power play can take advantage of the RMU struggles on the PK. But if you’re expecting an LIU sweep this weekend, I wouldn’t bet money on it. 

Prediction: Considering how easily RMU dispatched Saint Anselm, who LIU had their struggles against just last weekend, I find it hard to see a world in which RMU doesn’t take down LIU easily. The Sharks will keep things close at least once, but the Colonials need to get back into their winning ways this weekend, and I think it happens with a sweep of LIU. 

Series streaming details can be found here.

Monthly Standings Update:

As of Dec. 11th, 2024

1. Sacred Heart – 31 Points (10-3-1 in conference, 11-7-1 overall)

1. Last Month: No. 2 

2. LIU – 30 Points (10-2-2 in conference, 10-5-2 overall)

1. Last Month: No. 3

3. Franklin Pierce – 27 Points (9-6-0 in conference, 9-8-0 overall)

1. Last Month: No. 1 

4. Assumption – 23 Points (6-6-2 in conference, 6-11-3 overall)

1. Last Month: T-4

5. Saint Anselm – 22 Points (6-6-2 in conference, 6-11-2 overall)

1. Last Month: No. 6

6. Stonehill – 17 Points (5-7-2 in conference, 5-14-2 overall)

1. Last Month: T-4

7. Post – 16 Points (4-8-3 in conference, 4-12-3 overall)

1. Last Month: No. 7 

8. Saint Michael’s – 5 Points (1-13-0 in conference, 1-17-0 overall)

1. Last Month: No. 8