Except for a few instances, the final week of the regular season played out true to form. Such was the case for the ECAC East, which jump-started conference playoff action.
ECAC West
Elmira’s sweep of Neumann and Plattsburgh’s back-to-back shutout wins over Oswego allowed both clubs to gain a share the ECAC West regular season title. Elmira senior Tanis Lamoureux, who had three assists on the weekend, concluded the regular season with a single-season high of 23 helpers. Cardinals’ goalie Sydney Aveson shutdown of the Lakers gave her 13 shutouts for the season.
ECAC East (first round)
Second-seed Salve Regina’s 5-0 win over Plymouth (5-19-2, 3-11-2 ECAC East), served as the first playoff win on home ice in program history. Shannon Coleman’s marker, 6:23 into the opening period, proved to be the decisive goal. The result advances the Seahawks to the quarterfinal round of the ECAC East playoffs. Salve freshmen goalie Colleen Marcik’s 18-save performance was the first shutout for the Seahawks since freshman Rebecca Simmons whitewashed Manhattanville, 1-0, on March 7, 2009.
Madyson Moore registered a pair of goals and an assist and defenseman Kayla Parsons finished with four helpers as Norwich overwhelmed New England College, 8-1, in the postseason opener for the No. 4 Cadets.
Massachusetts-Boston got the best of host Manhattanville in a 3-0 result. Defenseman Kelsey MacIsaac’s goal in the opening period held up as the game-winner. Junior goalie Moe Bradley made 17 stops in gaining her fourth shutout of the year.
Nicoline Jensen’s goal 2:48 into the first period propelled Castleton to a 1-0 triumph over Southern Maine. The Spartans advanced to the semifinals for the second time in program history. Jensen paced Castleton in scoring with 32 points in 26 games this season. The Huskies, who lost their last four outings heading into the matchup with Castleton, were held to just two shots on goal in the third period. Junior Paula Stephens copped her fourth shutout of the season in the win.
WIAC
Crysta Lowell’s mid-third-period tally helped Wisconsin-River Falls garner its fifth consecutive win in a 4-1 result over Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The Falcons, who earned the top seed in the upcoming O’Brien Cup, improved to 8-2-2 in conference action.
NCHA
St. Thomas put the finishing touches on the regular season crown, but needed a modicum of assistance from Bethel, which topped Gustavus Adolphus 1-, thus denying the Golden Gusties a share of the conference title. The Tommies finished 14-2-2, while Gustavus Adolphus closed out with a 14-4-0 slate.
D-III at Sochi
Molly Schaus, Team USA backup goalie and goaltending coach at Massachusetts-Boston started one game at the Sochi Olympics; posting a shutout in a 9-0 rout of Switzerland in preliminary round action.
St. Scholastica’s Nina Waidacher averaged 6:36 of ice time for Bronze Medalists, Switzerland at the Sochi Games. The Saints junior forward, finished with three shots on goal to go with -4 rating.
