NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Christmas Johnson (Winnipeg, Manitoba) collected a career-high 62 saves, but the Albertus Magnus College women's ice hockey team dropped a 3-2 game in overtime to New England Hockey Conference opponent, Elmira on Friday.
Johnson is on track to surpass her 784 saves from last season as she currently has 649 this campaign and boasts 1,433 career saves. First-year Shoshana Lofstock (Fair Lawn, N.J.) connected for her third career goal, while Tori Walsh (Marystown, Newfoundland) recorded her sixth this season.
THE BASICS
FINAL (OT): Elmira College 3 | Albertus Magnus 2
RECORDS: Albertus (4-16-2, 2-12-1 NEHC) | Elmira (14-7-1, 11-3-1 NEHC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Johnson denied 18 shots on goal to keep the Soaring Eagles off the board in the opening period. Three Falcons defenders aided the sophomore goaltender in the scoring zone as Ariana Martin (Hamden, Conn.), Walsh and Jodi Ostroski (Roseau, Minn.) each recorded a block to deny Elmira the early advantage.
- With four and a half minutes remaining before the first intermission, Elmira's Gaby Matson had a close opportunity to score but the puck doinked off the pipe.
- Following a scoreless first period of action between both sides, the Falcons opened the scoring after netting a power-play goal at the 7:08 mark of the second period to take a 1-0 lead. Walsh sent the puck to Gabriella Dellacroce (Woodbridge, Conn.) at the point who quickly passed back to Walsh before the sophomore crossed to Molly Martin (Buffalo, N.Y.) near the left side of the blueline. Martin then ripped a shot that Lofstock tipped in for the one-goal lead.
- Elmira answered with the equalizer at the 12:38 mark as Emily Lenzen ripped a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle.
- The Falcons struck again early in the third period to take a 2-1 lead as Walsh passed the puck to herself as she sent the puck down to the boards behind the net. The puck came back to her and she took a shot past Elmira goaltender, Emily Finach.
- At the 7:26 mark in the third period, McKenzie Schmidt thought she connected for the game-tying goal but Johnson managed to sit on the puck in the crease and prevent it from sliding into the net.
- With less than a minute to play in the third period, Erika Goleniak provided the equalizer for Elmira after snapping a shot past Johnson to force extra time.
- In overtime, Albertus was called for a delay of game penalty at the 2:49 mark and gave Elmira a 4-on-3 advantage. Goleniak provided the game-winning goal as she took a pass from Anna Lugge just in front of the faceoff circle and found the back of the net with 1:01 left.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Albertus
Christmas Johnson (L, 3-13-2) 65 Shots on Goal | 62 Saves | 3 Goals Allowed
Elmira
Emily Finach (W, 4-2-0) 17 Shots on Goal | 15 Saves | 2 Goals Allowed
TEAM STATS
Power-Play Goals/Opportunities
Albertus 1/8 | Elmira 1/8
Penalties/Minutes
Albertus 7/14| Elmira 8/16
Faceoffs Won
Albertus 22 | Elmira 48
UP NEXT
Albertus welcomes back Elmira to the Ralph Walker Ice Rink on Saturday for the Falcons' final home game of the season at 4 p.m. Before the puck drop, the team will honor its seniors for Senior Day.
