Freshman forward Alexa Pongo scored two goals for the Warriors
Pongo Scores Twice As Merrimack Upends Holy Cross, 5-3
Freshman forward Alexa Pongo scored two goals for the Warriors

Box Score

NO. ANDOVER, Mass. - In an offense heavy game, the Merrimack women's ice hockey squad jumped for five goals to take their third straight win, taking a 5-3 victory over Holy Cross on Saturday night. Freshman Alexa Pongo notched her first two career goals in the game, as Teghan Inglis and Katie Kaufman continued their goal scoring streaks for the Warriors' offense.


The Basics

Score: Merrimack Warriors 5, Holy Cross Crusaders 3
Records: Merrimack (3-8-1, 3-4-1 HEA) | Holy Cross (1-10-0, 0-7-0 HEA)
Location: Lawler Arena | North Andover, Mass.


How It Happened

- Teghan Inglis opened up the night's scoring on the power play late in the first. The defender handed the pass from Raice Szott at the hash marks, walking down from the blueline as she stepped into her shot for her fifth goal of the year.

- Holy Cross got on the board early in the second period to draw the game even before taking a lead midway through the frame.

- Merrimack responded to Holy Cross' second goal just 40 seconds later. From deep in the Crusaders zone, Katie Kaufman cut across the top of the circle for a shot on goal, where Gabby Jones pushed the heavy rebound on goal. Another rebound from Holy Cross was met by Allison Reeb, crashing at the far post to bring the game even again.

- The Warriors stepped up for their second power play goal late in the second period. Senior Julia MacLean handled the puck from the point, putting a shot down low. Allison Reeb, waiting along the post, chipped at the puck, sending it end-over-end and sailing over the head of the goaltender. Freshman Alexa Pongo was ready on the other side of the net, jumping on the loose puck for the open net for her first career goal.

- Pongo was ready again for the opportunity, as she handled a short pass through the neutral zone by Ally Qualley for a break into the zone. The freshman shielded the puck against her defender on the blue line before cutting against the second defensive effort in the zone, cutting in on a breakaway into the slot where she finished with a quick inside out stickhandle for her second goal of the game.

- Holy Cross scored midway through the third period to make it a one goal game once again. In the final minute of the contest, the Crusaders tried to work with an empty net. After blocking a shot from the point, Katie Kaufman handled the play off the boards in the neutral zone by Courtney Maud, zooming over to the puck to send in an empty net goal from the outside of the offensive blue line for the final tally of the night.


Notes & Numbers

- Goaltender Emma Gorski has now won three straight games, stopping 26 shots for to the victory, with five of those opportunities coming shorthanded.

- Katie Kaufman continues her goal scoring streak, as the junior added her fourth goal in three games with the empty netter. Teghan Inglis has now scored in two straight for the Warriors as well.

- Goaltenders: Emma Gorski (26 saves, 3-7-1) | Jada Brenon (31 saves, 1-8-0)

- Power Plays: MC 2-3 | HC 0-3

- Shots on Goal: MC 9, HC 9 | MC 9, HC 9 | MC 13, HC 8 | MC 35, HC 29

- Faceoffs: 29 MC | 17 HC

- Blocks: 9 MC | 6 HC


Up Next

Merrimack is set for a home-and-home with the University of New Hampshire, hosting the Wildcats on Friday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. before taking on UNH in Durham on Saturday, Nov. 13 with puck drop set for 2 p.m.