NORTHEASTERN BLANKS NIAGARA, 2-0
Junior Sarah Belliveau records her first career shutout

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - Junior Nikki Petrich scored once and added an assist and junior Sarah Belliveau recorded her first career shutout as the NU women's hockey team defeated Niagara, 3-0, at Dwyer Arena in Niagara University, N.Y. on Saturday afternoon.

In earning their first road victory of the 2006-07 season, the Huskies received goals from three different players. Sophomore defenseman Erin Reil scored the team's first goal with 1:05 remaining in the first period, when the two teams were playing four-on-four. Assists on the game-winning tally went to freshmen Ginny Berg and Chelsey Jones, who leads the team with five helpers.

The two teams continued to battle throughout the second and third periods, but neither team could get on the board for most of that time. Late in the third period, however, the Huskies struck for two goals that put the game away. Petrich scored her third goal of the season at 17:47 of the third period while the Huskies were on the power play, giving her team a two-goal lead. With 36 seconds remaining, sophomore Cassie Sperry added an empty-net tally to account for the final score.

In net for the Huskies, Belliveau made 22 saves in earning her second victory of the season and her first career shutout. The 22 shots allowed is a season-low for the Huskies, whose last shutout also came against the Purple Eagles on Feb. 25, 2006. For Niagara, Allison Rutledge took the loss after giving up two goals on 27 shots.

Northeastern will look for its first winning streak of the 2006-07 season tomorrow at 2 p.m. when the Huskies and Purple Eagles play the second game of their weekend series at Dwyer Arena in Niagara University, N.Y.