WILKES-BARRE, PA – Graduate student Abigail Barcless and first-year Jordan Ferry each collected three-point games as the Wilkes University women's ice hockey team used a four-goal third period to defeat the visiting Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) 6-1 on Saturday at the Toyota SportsPlex.
The victory allowed the Colonels to open the season with a sweep of MCLA and move to 2-0-0 overall. MCLA dropped to 0-2-0. Wilkes also scored six goals for the second straight game which is the most goals in a single game in team history at the outset of year number six for the program.
Ferry began the scoring at 11:31 into the first period for her first collegiate goal and point. Barcless assisted on the play along with Lily Zingaro who collected her first career point as well on the play.
The Colonels held a 17-3 advantage in shots on goal in the first period, but their lead was only one goal as Katie O'Brien made 16 saves for the Trailblazers. Audrey Milne stopped all three of the shots she faced in the first 20 minutes in her first collegiate start.
Milica Velcek scored for the second straight game to put the Colonels up 2-0. The goal came 13:57 into the second period as she deflected a Barcless shot from the point perfectly past O'Brien. In addition to Barcless, Rissa Brazeau assisted on the play for her first collegiate assist.
Carlen Bertrand put MCLA on the scoreboard with 1:52 left in the second with assists from Brigh Cote and Alexandrea Bednar. Wilkes outshot MCLA 19-6 in the second period but the game went to the third period as a one-goal game with the Colonels ahead 2-1.
The Colonels veterans began to take control in the third period as Barcless scored 1:58 into the frame off assists from Bella Kaczorowski and Rachel Morey to make it 3-1. At the 5:01 mark Kaczorowski found the net with helpers from Morey and Anneke Bouma.
Ferry then scored her second of the game as she danced past the defense and in on a breakaway and then beat O'Brien with a nice move for the goal. She became the first Colonel to record a two-goal game this season and it is just the eighth time a player has scored two times in the same game in program history. The goal 15:33 into the third made it 5-1.
Brazeau scored for the second straight game to cap the scoring with just over 11 seconds remaining and just before the Colonels fourth power play of the game ended. Ferry assisted as she won the faceoff and got the puck over to Brazeau in front for the shot.
Wilkes outshot MCLA 22-5 in the third period.
For the game the Colonels held a 58-14 lead in shots on goal. Wilkes went 1-for-4 on the power play with 15 total shots. MCLA was 0-for-3 with four shots. The Colonels won the faceoff battle 38-22 as Ferry went 15-for-21 and Morey 13-for-18 to lead the way at the dot.
Ferry led Wilkes in shots with 11 and Tilly Wierdsma followed with eight. Bertrand led MCLA with three shots.
Milne earned her first career win as she made 13 saves. O'Brien totaled 52 saves for the Trailblazers.
The Colonels open United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) play next Saturday when they host Manhattanville College at the Toyota SportsPlex at 3:30 p.m.