SULYMA'S 52 SAVES EARN NORTHEASTERN 4-0 WIN AT PRINCETON
Junior Leah Sulyma stops career-high 52 shots to earn second straight shutout

Leah Sulyma made 52 saves for the Huskies

Junior Leah Sulyma stopped a career-high 52 shots and earned her second straight shutout as the No. 9 Northeastern Huskies (12-4-2, 6-3-2-1 Hockey East) defeated the Princeton Tigers, 4-0 on Tuesday at Baker Rink. Four different Huskies potted goals on the afternoon, including freshman Casie Fields (Buffalo Grove, Ill.), who recorded her first collegiate point.

Sulyma, who posted 32 saves in a shutout of Yale on Jan. 1, was in control from the outset. The Inuvik, Northwest Territories native stopped 11 shots in the opening period, 19 in the second and 22 in the final frame, running her shutout streak to 144:06 consecutive minutes. Sulyma has stopped her last 92 shots overall, lowering her GAA to 0.67 and upping her save percentage to .983 in three games.

While Sulyma thoroughly frustrated the Tigers' offense, the Huskies made the most of their 20 shots on goal, converting on 20% of their attempts. Freshman Brittany Esposito opening the scoring at 6:16 of the first frame with a power play goal after a setup from seniors Annie Hogan and Lindsay Berman. Esposito-- named the Bauer Rookie of the Week for Hockey East earlier in the day-- lit the lamp for the fourth time this season and second time in her last two games. Eight of Esposito's 10 points, including all four goals, have come on the road in 2009-10.

Just over two minutes later, Fields added to the Northeastern advantage with an unassisted tally, her first collegiate goal. Junior Alyssa Wohlfeiler added a third 4:21 later, chasing Princeton goalie Cassie Seguin from the game after 13 minutes of action. Hogan added another assist on the goal, while freshman Casey Pickett earned the secondary helper, extending her point streak to three straight games.

The 3-0 advantage held until late in the third period, when junior Kristi Kehoe beat backup goalie Rachel Weber for her ninth of the season at 15:19. The Huskies are now 10-1-2 in games in which Kehoe records at least a point this season.

Sulyma's back-to-back shutouts were a first in her collegiate career, while her 52 saves fell just five short of the single-game program record held by Marisa Hourihan in two games in 2005. Northeastern's six team shutouts this season are four shy of tying a school record set by the 1998-99 squad.

The Huskies were outshot for the fifth straight game and 13th time this season on Tuesday; however, despite the disadvantage, Northeastern has posted an 8-3-2 record in those games. With the victory over Princeton, the Huskies won their 12th game of the season, which matches last year's overall win total. Northeastern has won two straight heading into Friday's showdown vs. UNH at Fenway Park.