Despite Loss, Hollingsworth Shines

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications  

SALEM, Mass.- Despite Kaia Hollingsworth (Methuen, Mass.) saving 47-of-50 shots, William Smith picked up a 3-0 New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) victory over Salem State on Friday night at Rockett Arena. The Herons improve their record to 13-4-1, 8-2-1 while the Vikings slip to 5-12-1, 2-8-1.   

Salem State got a breakaway opportunity early when Jessica Robert (North Reading, Mass.) made a move to strike first, but unfortunately, Annie Hauser (White Plain, N.Y.) made a crucial glove save, keeping the game scoreless. Salem State then had a power play opportunity, but they failed to take advantage of it when Elizabeth MacMurray (Pottstown, Pa.) was sent to the box for holding. 

Later during the period, the Herons were looking to strike first off the face off after the first icing of the game around the 14:30 mark. A pile of Vikings and Herons were near the net, and they were inches away from scoring. However, Lexi Warner (Littletown, Mass.) and Aislinn Bennett's (Milford, Mass.) teamed together to push the puck towards Hollingsworth, who made another fantastic save. 

The Vikings had another opportunity when Robert received an indirect pass from Warner near the crease, and shot it towards the left side of the net. The puck hit Hauser's face mask, denying Salem State from scoring the first goal of the game. 

Late into the period, the Herons had their first power play of the game when Isabella Perrotti (Winthrop, Mass.) was sent to the box for tripping at the 19:23 mark of the period. The power play would continue intof the second period. Meghan Azzato (Falmouth, Mass.) was looking for a breakaway, but unfortunately, time expired just as she had the puck.  

At the end of the first period, both teams were scoreless.  

After the game Coach Kizzie reflected on the first period. " It was good energy; a good job on the puck. A lot of quality things happened in the first period while we continued to stay on the gas."  

In the second, Hollingsworth, the Vikings' goalkeeper, made a fantastic save by diving to prevent William Smith from scoring during their power play. Despite the Herons' aggressive approach, the Vikings managed to kill off the power play, and the game remained scoreless.  

Later in the second period, Hollingsworth made another incredible save when the puck was loose in the crease. However, William Smith took advantage of their power play when Annabel Ziskin (Smithtown, N.Y.) passed the puck to Mackenzie O'Neil (Wellesley, Mass.), who scored at the 8:10 mark.  

Although the Herons tried to add another goal, the Vikings' resilient defense prevented them from doing so as Hollingsworth made a couple of brilliant saves, keeping the score at 1-0.  

In the first two periods, Salem State won 18 faceoffs compared to William Smith's 14. However, the Herons more than doubled the Vikings' shots on goal with 28, while Salem State had 12. Hollingsworth saved 27 of the 28 shots, while Hauser saved all 12 shots.  In terms of power play the Herons were 1 for 4 while the Vikings were 0 for 2. 

Coach Kizzie talked about the message at the end of the second intermission with Salem State down by a goal. "The game was there for the taking.  A one-goal game is all about getting on the gas and they did a good job playing above the puck."  

During the early minutes of the third period, Sydney Foster (Danvers, Mass.) passed the puck to Seneca Urban (Superior, Colo.) and Urban passed the puck to Kelly Howe (Deerfield, Mass.), Howe managed to score and extend the Herons lead from the right side as her shot it hit inside the post at the 2:29 mark.  

As the game progressed, Salem State was determined to make a comeback and narrow the gap to just one goal. They were putting up a tough fight in the Herons' zone.  

During a two-on-one power play, Kayla Ketchabaw  (Rye Brook, N.Y.) of William Smith made an incredible pass to Brittany Foster (Danvers, Mass.), who narrowley missed the shot. 

Hollingsworth, the Vikings' goalie, made an exceptional save when the Herons were on a two-on-one breakaway. Emma Faso passed the puck to Brittany Foster who took the shot, but Hollingsworth managed to glove it and make the save. It was a moment of brilliance from the Vikings' goalie, who was having a phenomenal  game. 

After the game Hollingsworth talked about the save. "So [Isa]bella, she is not a defender, but she was my d[efensman] I was screaming at her get the pass as I was going to try to get the initial shot, but the pass snuck through. I knew where the player was because I was scanning, but I just stood and caught it." 

Towards the end of the period, William Smith sealed the game by scoring one more goal. Hauser, the Herons' goalie, saved all 15 shots while Hollingsworth saved an impressive 47 of 50 shots. The Vikings were unable to convert any of their three power play opportunities, while the Herons managed to score once out of their four power plays. William Smith outshot Salem State by a significant margin - 50 shots as compared to Salem State's 15. 

Salem State will be looking to come back tomorrow afternoon as they will remain at Rockett Arena welcoming Elmira into town for a New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) contest. Puck drops at 3 p.m.