WORCESTER, Mass. - Sophomore goaltender Sedona Blair (Eden Prairie, Minn.) made a career-high 43 saves to backstop the University of New Hampshire women's hockey team to Friday's 1-0 victory against the College of the Holy Cross at Hart Center Rink.
Blair stopped eight shots in the first period, followed by 16 in the second and 19 in the third to record her sixth shutout of the season and 11th career.
Senior defender Marina Alvarez (Center Moriches, N.Y.) broke the scoreless tie with a shorthanded goal at 13:16 of the third period.
Holy Cross goalie Abby Hornung made 32 saves.
UNH improved to 13-13-1 overall and 9-11-0 in Hockey East by completing the season series sweep of the Crusaders, who are now7-16-3, 3-14-3.
UP NEXT
- UNH return to action Feb. 1 (3 p.m.) at Providence College.
- The Wildcats' next home game is Feb. 6 (6 p.m.) against Merrimack College. In recognition of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, there will be a pregame panel discussion. There is also a trading card giveaway and a postgame autograph session with the 'Cats.
FIRST PERIOD
- Holy Cross recorded an 8-7 shot advantage in the scoreless opening 20 minutes.
- Alexia Moreau snuck behind UNH's defense in the slot and her quick redirection off a centering pass was blocked aside by Blair.
SECOND PERIOD
- The home team had a 16-10 edge in shots in the second period.
- Holy Cross carried 69 seconds of a power play into the second stanza but the Wildcats' penalty kill did not allow a shot on goal.
- UNH went on its second power play at 5:21 but Hornung denied both Andi Calderone (Kirkland, Quebec) at 6:57 and Maddie Crowley-Cahill (Haverhill, Mass.) at 7:04.
- At 9:05, the Crusaders won an offensive zone faceoff to Blair's left and swept a centering puck to the low slot, where Moreau's one-timer was turned aside by the leg pads of Blair.
- Blair made another quick reaction save when she stopped Emilie Fortunato's redirection from the slot at 15:52.
THIRD PERIOD
- The teams combined for 35 shots on goal in the final frame.
- Blair made yet another spectacular save to deny Moreau at 10:15. The puck popped out from behind the net at the right post and Blair, who had started moving toward the opposite post, extended her left leg pad for the save.
- Holy Cross went on its fourth power play at 12:02 but Blair made three saves within the next minute to keep the game deadlocked at zero.
- Moments later, Alvarez corralled the loose puck in the defensive zone and carried into the neutral zone. She continued with speed at the right point and beat a defender down the slot, deked going to her backhand and pulled the puck back to the forehand and tucked a shot between Hornung's leg pad and the right post to give UNH a 1-0 lead at 13:16.
- UNH's fourth power play began at 14:22 but Hornung turned aside all three shots to keep the margin at one goal.
- Holy Cross called time out at 17:42 and pulled Hornung in favor of an extra skater nine seconds later.
- The Wildcats were whistled for a cross-checking penalty at 17:56 to create a two-skater advantage for HC.
- Blair blocked aside Madison Michals' shot with 32 seconds remaining and then made a flurry of four saves in the final 18 seconds to preserve the win.
UNH NOTEBOOK
- Blair surpassed her previous season high of 37 saves, which she recorded in both games at Mercyhurst University, and previous benchmark of 40 saves established Nov. 3, 2023 at Providence College.
- Blair has eight games with 30+ saves this season.
- Four of Blair's six shutouts this season have been in Hockey East league games.
- Alvarez has four goals this season and 12 career.
- This was her first career shorthanded tally and second of the season for the 'Cats.
- Alvarez moved into a tie for fourth on the team in points with 13.
- Kira Juodikis (LaSalle, Ontario) and Sara Boucher (Burlington, Ontario) tied for the team lead with seven faceoff wins.
- Shea Verrier (Reading, Mass.) and Lucie Legro (Brentwood, N.H.) led all skaters with three blocks apiece.
GAME NOTEBOOK
- Holy Cross finished with the edge in both shots (43-33) and faceoffs (36-31).
- UNH went 0-for-4 on the power play and the Crusaders were 0-for-5.
- The Wildcats were credited with blocking 15 shot attempts and HC had nine blocks.
SERIES NOTEBOOK
- UNH has a 22-1-0 lifetime record against Holy Cross.
- This was UNH's seventh shutout of the Crusaders.
- The Wildcats have a 14-game win streak against Holy Cross.
- UNH outscored Holy Cross 6-2 in the season series; both meetings at Hart Center Rink were decided by one goal, including the 3-2 overtime win Nov. 15.
