NASHUA, N.H. — The Roger Williams University Women's Ice Hockey team made history Friday afternoon, opening its inaugural varsity season with a 1-1 tie and a 5-4 shootout victory over Rivier at Conway Arena.
Roger Williams (0-0-1) entered the third period trailing 1-0 before first-year forward Remy LeBel (Damariscotta, Maine) scored the first goal in program history just 56 seconds into the period. After a scoreless overtime, first-year defender Alex Martin (West Hartford, Conn.) scored in the seventh round of the shootout and sophomore goaltender Gabi Brazeau (Timmins, Ontario) made the ensuing stop to secure the shootout win.
Brazeau anchored the Hawks in goal, stopping 46 of the 47 shots she faced. She made 15 saves in the opening period, 13 in the second, eight in the third and 10 during overtime. Brazeau also stopped three attempts during the shootout.
LeBel finished with a goal, two shots and a team-high 11 faceoff victories. First-year forward Emily Hester (Portsmouth, N.H.) recorded the assist on the historic goal and placed five shots on net.
First-year forward Grace Collins (Billerica, Mass.) led Roger Williams with seven shots on goal. First-year defender Jordan Downey (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and first-year forward Mia Tamburo (Phoenix, Ariz.) added four shots apiece.
Rivier goaltender Taylor Bruno made 31 saves, while Rebecca McKelvey scored the Raiders' lone goal. Chloe Bryda led Rivier with nine shots, and Kayley Young and Lillian Wojcicki recorded seven each.
The teams played a scoreless opening period despite Rivier holding a 15-8 advantage in shots. The Raiders broke through at 14:29 of the second when McKelvey scored off an assist from Haylie Grossmann.
Roger Williams responded on its opening shift of the third period. Hester set up LeBel, who beat Bruno to tie the game at 1-1 and record the first official goal in RWU women's ice hockey history.
The Hawks nearly took the lead midway through the period when Collins was awarded a penalty shot, but Bruno made the save to keep the game even.
Roger Williams was forced to kill a penalty that began with 44 seconds remaining in regulation and carried into overtime. Brazeau stopped each Rivier opportunity during the advantage as the Hawks held the Raiders scoreless on four power-play chances.
Tamburo, Collins, first-year forward Ella Maldonado (Norwalk, Conn.), first-year defender Jordan Nash (Lyman, Maine) and Martin converted for Roger Williams during the seven-round shootout. After Martin put the Hawks ahead, Brazeau denied Casey Roth on Rivier's final attempt.
The Hawks will play the first home game in program history Tuesday, Nov. 3, when they host Nichols at 6 p.m. at Driscoll Arena in Fall River, Massachusetts.
