CHC SEMIFINALS: No. 8/10 Endicott Tops Stevenson, 4-2

#RAPIDREACTION w/ HOLLY ERBE

BEVERLY, Mass. – The first-seeded Endicott women's ice hockey team claimed a 4-2 victory over No. 4 seeded Stevenson University in the semifinal round of the Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Raymond J. Bourque Arena.

With the win, No. 8/10 nationally ranked Endicott (22-3-1) has advanced to the CHC Tournament championship game scheduled for tomorrow afternoon (1:30 PM) at Raymond J. Bourque arena. The Gulls will take on the winner of No. 2 Morrisville State and No. 3 SUNY Canton who play later today at 4:00 PM. Meanwhile, with the loss, Stevenson's season comes to a close at 14-11-1.

Tied 2-2 midway through the third period, Holly Erbe (Woodbine, Md.) potted her first goal of the season – and the eventual game-winner at the 8:56 mark – when her shot from just inside the right face-off circle hit a Mustangs' defenseman's skate and changed direction on the goaltender before going in.

Jillian Gibbs (Burlington, Vt.) then doubled Endicott's advantage at 18:44 of the third when she backhanded a shot into the top left corner of the net after securing a previous Endicott shot that bounced off the kick plate behind Stevenson's goal directly to her stick near the left post.

Endicott goaltender Vendela Jonsson (Linkoping, Sweden) made 25 saves in the win (15-2-1), while Caitie Darosa (Madison, Conn.) stopped 39 shots in the loss (7-8-1).

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Endicott now leads the all-time series with today's win (3-2-1). 
• The Gulls also avenged last year's CHC Championship 2-1 double overtime loss to Stevenson.
• Madison Huber (Pittsburgh, Pa.) blocked a game-high five shots.
• Jade Meier (Fairbanks, Alaska) tied up the contest at 1-1 at the 16:41 mark of the contest, while Gibbs' first of two tallies at 11:10 of the second evened up the score at 2-2.
• Endicott only led for 11:04 of the matchup.

FOR THE FOES

• Chelsea Ellis (St. Albans, Vt.) put Stevenson on the scoreboard first with her third tally of the season at 2:17.
• Ellis drilled a one-timer into the top left corner of the net after Chelsea Blackburn (Westland, Mich.) cycled the puck to Monica Pozuc (Kent, Ohio) from behind the net to left post.
• Pozuc went on to give Stevenson its second lead of the game at 9:55 of the second on a feed from Ellis after she won a 50/50 battle near the right corner boards.

WHAT'S NEXT

No. 8/10 nationally ranked Endicott (22-3-1) has advanced to the CHC Tournament championship game scheduled for tomorrow afternoon (1:30 PM) at Raymond J. Bourque arena. The Gulls will take on the winner of No. 2 Morrisville State and No. 3 SUNY Canton who play later today at 4:00 PM. Stevenson's season comes to a close at 14-11-1. 

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