Going into the playoffs holding onto hope after a string of injuries, a nightmare 3-goal second period from the University of New England put Suffolk University women’s hockey in an insurmountable hole, spelling the end for the Rams’ season in a 6-2 loss.
“We fought hard, but we’re thin up front. We lacked depth, some games took more out of us than others, but the kids that were in the lineup showed up and tried their best every night,” said head coach Abby Ostrom.
The game started with a back-and-forth first period, starting with a UNE goal less than three minutes into the game. For Suffolk, a near-goal came just an inch away from tying the game up, but was unintentionally knocked away by a UNE player’s skate behind their goalie before it could reach the goal line.
Ostrom noted that while the team believed it should’ve been a goal, it helped fuel them for a competitive first period.
“That gave us a confidence boost, that ‘yeah we can do this,’” said Ostrom.
Shortly after the missed opportunity, junior forward Bella Schmidt suffered a rough hit, falling head-first into the board. Schmidt returned to the game after a brief stoppage, and in a show of resilience netted a power-play goal just seconds later off assists by captains Jenna Caballero and Lilliana Moose to tie the game at one apiece in the first period.
Ostrom commented on Schmidt’s resilience in that moment, praising her for her efforts in getting back out onto the ice.
“She’s the ultimate gamer, she’s the glue on the ice for us in terms of skating ability, puck control, being a dynamic offensive threat and just battling adversity, getting up and going back again,” said Ostrom. “She got shoved into the boards, we needed a goal, so her powerplay unit stayed on the ice. She’s a very talented athlete and leader on and off the ice.”
The Rams went into the second period with a tied game and their heads held high, but the momentum shifted on a whim as UNE’s Grace Flannery knocked one in past goalie Katelyn Michals to give UNE the lead.
UNE’s offense kicked into overdrive, knocking in two more unanswered goals and putting the Rams in a 4-1 deficit.
In the face of a relentless UNE offensive, the Rams found themselves scrambling for a way to save their season with just one period left to play.
Ostrom noted what she believed went wrong for her team down the stretch in the second period.
“I think we just mishandled the puck too much in our d-zone,” said Ostrom. “We had a tough time tracking plays and picking up bodies.”
Showing life, the Rams made it a 4-2 game off a short-handed goal by sophomore forward Julia Holmes, assisted by Lily Abraham in the third period.
Just under two minutes later, Suffolk’s hopes of a comeback would be dashed by UNE’s unwavering attack. UNE scored another goal to take a 5-2 lead then followed it up with a second third-period goal for good measure.
In shots on goal, UNE outshot Suffolk 47-21. Michals finished the game with 41 total saves for the Rams.
Ostrom praised Michals’ work in the net throughout the game and highlighted the leadership she brought to the team all season.
“Whenever she’s in net she’s always a difference maker,” said Ostrom. “She competes hard, she’s super athletic, tracks pucks well, any day she’s in the net we have a chance. She gave us that chance, I think our thinness up front bit us in the end.”
After a 6-18-2 end to the season, Ostrom noted this team has the talent and work ethic to go far but injuries throughout the year made a big dent on their ability to play 60 minutes. Going into next year, she believes getting healthy players back could be a difference-maker for this team.
“I think the biggest thing for us is that we need to get our depth back. Playing college hockey with three lines is tough,” said Ostrom. “I think we have a ton of talent in our room, we have great leadership in our room, but we need more bodies to be able to compete consistently at a high level.”
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