WILKES-BARRE, PA – Rissa Brazeau scored twice and the Wilkes University women's ice hockey team held off a late comeback by visiting Albertus Magnus College to win 4-2 in a non-conference game Friday evening at the Toyota SportsPlex.
Wilkes improved to 11-6-1 overall with the victory and Albertus Magnus dropped to 4-14-2.
Wilkes controlled much of the play in the early going but were unsuccessful on two power play opportunities. The Falcons were able to capitalize on a strong power play of their own to gain a 1-0 lead at the 16:43 mark of the first when Isabella Contreras scored on a tip out front of the crease with assists coming from Molly Martin and Gabby Dellacroce.
Wilkes tied the game 3:30 into the second period when Brazeau scored her third of the season with nice passing from behind the net coming from Milica Velcek and Haylee Bouchard who picked up the helpers.
Lily Zingaro then scored her fourth of the season to put the Colonels ahead 2-1 at the 9:06 mark of the second. Breanna Herdine picked up her first collegiate point as her clearance off the glass found Zingaro in the middle of the ice and in on for the breakaway goal. Savanna Maxon picked up the second assist on the play.
Brazeau made it 3-1 exactly three minutes into the third period as she stole the puck from a Falcons player in the neutral zone and worked her way to the net with a nice finish.
Albertus Magnus did not go quietly as Kayla Clark scored with a nice assist from Martin to make it 3-2 with 2:58 left in regulation. Contreras picked up the second assist on the play. The Falcons then earned a power play with 2:18 remaining and pulled their goaltender with under a minute left for a 6-on-4 advantage.
Wilkes was able to close the door on a comeback as Bouchard picked up a loose puck and skated it into the empty net with 27 seconds left to produce the 4-2 final. It was a record setting goal for Bouchard as she notched her 10th of the season to become the program single-season leader.
Emma Swansburg made 23 saves to earn the victory for Wilkes. Christmas Johnson made 36 saves for Albertus Magnus.
Wilkes held a 40-25 shots advantage and dominated the faceoff circle to the tune of 42-17. Jordan Ferry was 16-for-21, Rachel Morey was 12-for-15, and Brazeau was 6-for-6 at the dot.
The Colonels were 0-for-3 on the power play and the Falcons went 1-for-2.
The Colonels are back to United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) play on Tuesday when they host cross-town rival King's College at the Toyota SportsPlex with puck drop scheduled for 2:30 p.m.