Women's Ice Hockey Nazareth Athletic Communications

Rutigliano Scores First Career Goal in 4-0 Win over Lebanon Valley; Nazareth Clinches UCHC Regular Season Title

ANNVILLE, PA – Freshman Juliet Rutigliano scored her first-career goal as the Nazareth Women's hockey team completed the weekend sweep against Lebanon Valley, winning 4-0 on Saturday afternoon. With the win, Nazareth has clinched the UCHC regular season title and No. 1 seed in the upcoming league tournament.
 
Nazareth continues its success in the UCHC for a record of 17-0-1 (17-5-1 overall), while LVC collected another UCHC loss for a record of 4-15-1 (5-18-1 overall).
 
Both teams came out fighting from the start but neither were able to capitalize on multiple goal scoring opportunities. It was 0-0 at the first intermission.
 
In the second period freshman Alexis Kindred struck first. Graduate student Makenna Wiljanen was able to move the puck up ice quickly to freshman Meredith Boettcher, who entered the offensive zone on a 2-v-1. Boettcher passed the puck over to Kindred, who was able to sneak it five-hole on the LVC goaltender for the 1-0 lead.
 
Shortly after, the Golden Flyers went on the power play and sophomore Abby Flanagan had her second goal of the weekend off a tip from freshman Nikki Sharp's shot. Boettcher collected her second assist of the day.
 
Senior goaltender McKinley Hoff made a massive breakaway save with three minutes left in the period to deny the Dutchmen a goal and keep the score 2-0 heading into the second intermission. 
 
Just 4:14 into the third period Rutigliano buried the rebound for her first collegiate goal off a shot from sophomore Sophia Nortz. Sophomore Alexis Jones also earned an assist on the play. 
 
Nazareth was back on the power play to end the third and with only 34 seconds left in the game, Flanagan tipped in her second goal of the game off a shot from the point by senior Julia Holmes.
 
Naz ended with a 54-17 shots on goal advantage, and Hoff posted her fifth shutout of the season with 18 saves.
 
The Golden Flyers are back home at Tim Horton's Iceplex for their final regular season games against Manhatanville College. Friday's game starts at 3 p.m. and Saturday's Flyer Fanatic Game is a 1 p.m. puck-drop.