BOSTON, MA – The opening contest of the 2025 Codfish Bowl needed a shootout to determine a winner, but Taylor Willoughby's score in the eighth round of the skills competition lifted the Manhattanville University women's hockey team past host UMass Boston on Saturday afternoon to send the Valiants to Sunday's championship game. Officially in the books as a 1-1 tie, the Valiants (2-4-1) outlasted the Beacons (4-2-1) in the marathon shootout to secure a spot in Sunday's finals.

UMass Boston took an early advantage in the shootout as Maggie Lynch scored in the first round, but Olivia Cimorelli slammed the door shut to deny the next seven Beacon shooters. Catrina Chinetti scored in the Valiants' final opportunity in the third round before the next four rounds went scoreless. Willoughby broke the ice to open round eight before Cimorelli shut down Adrianna Kelsch on the other end of the ice to close out Manhattanville's first shootout effort of the 2025-26 season.

The Valiants scored first in regulation when Abby Kauffman earned her first goal of the year 14:22 into the opening period of an assist from Harper Weisbeck. Scoring chances came at a premium in the first period as the teams combined for just eight total shots on goal, with the Valiants holding a 5-3 margin.

The Beacons battled back for the equalizer early in the second when Lynch netted her second of the season 84 seconds into the new period from Cassidy Morrison and Jenna Fitzsimmons. Manhattanville's attack was limited to just shots on goal over the duration of the second from Abby Mellen and Emilija Tuciute. Cimorelli finished with a game-high seven saves in the period to keep the game tied.

Defense continued to reign in the third as Manhattanville was held to another two shots in the final period of regulation, this time courtesy of the sticks of Molly Sances and Danielle Stadler. The Beacons found a little more success, getting seven pucks to Cimorelli, but the sophomore netminder turned them all away to send the game to overtime.

UMass Boston outshot Manhattanville 4-1 with the ice opened up, but neither side was able to capitalize on the five-minute 3-on-3. Cimorelli made three of her four OT saves in the span of 18 seconds, while Colby Cantor's bid at an overtime winner was turned away by the Beacons' Veronika Hadamovsky with 1:10 left to go. UMass got one final look on a Rae Alexandes shot attempt, but Danika Aubin deflected the puck away to send the game to the shootout where Chinetti and Willoughby were able to work their magic.

In all, Cimorelli finished with 21 saves, reaching the mark for a second-straight contest. The Valiant goalie moves to 2-4-1 overall and holds a 2.70 goals against average through seven games, sitting at a .919 save percentage.

The Valiants were held to ten total shots on goal in the contest, led by a pair from Chinetti in the first period. Manhattanville blocked 11 shots in the matchup, with Erin Flaherty leading the effort with three.

The Beacons won the faceoff battle 25-17, with Claire Hazard winning a team-high six draws for the Valiants.

A relatively clean game, only two penalties were called in the contest. Manhattanville went 0-for-1 with the woman advantage in the first period, while the Beacons scored on their one chance in the second to tie up the game.

Up Next
The Valiants will meet the winner of today's William Smith-Bowdoin contest tomorrow at 4 p.m. in the 2025 Codfish Bowl Championship game.

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