After going down 2-0 in the second period, the Rams couldn’t swing the momentum in their favor to grab the win. PHOTO CREDIT: Siobhan Richards | Contributing Photographer
The University of Rhode Island Women’s Ice Hockey team lost a tough battle to No. 7 ranked UMass Amherst 2-1 on the road this past Saturday.
The loss drops the team to 5-11-2 record on the season, just short of qualifying for the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) National Championships that will take place later this month.
“Even though it’s not what we expected, I’m very happy with the way we’ve been playing this season,” Head Coach Ray Boudiette said. “We’ve been playing some great teams and we’ve really gained momentum going into the later half of our season.”
After going down 2-0 within the first six minutes of the second period, the momentum shifted in the Rams’ favor after a tripping penalty was called against UMass that resulted in a power play. With the advantage, freshman right wing Serena Batacchi fired a shot past the UMass goaltender for her sixth goal of the season to make it 2-1.
“It felt amazing to come off the bench, see the opportunity and trust my body to rip the shot in,” Batacchi said. “We really shifted momentum, but at the end of the day, it came down to the goaltenders, and Maddie [Ashenfeller], she kept us in it.”
Ashenfeller continued her standout rookie season on the ice Saturday, recording 48 saves and allowing two goals, in her fifth start of the season.
“It’s definitely intimidating, especially with UMass, who knows how to set the tone and play their own game,” Ashenfeller said. “They have an aggressive mentality, and it can be overwhelming, but we’ve played them before and beat them, so we know we can do it.”
After previously losing the first two-game series between the two teams in December, URI upset UMass on their senior night 2-1 in overtime earlier this month. This win gave URI the confidence they needed heading into this matchup against the Mjinutewomen.
“I always try to emphasize the confidence in players before every game,” Boudiette said. “We know we’re a really great team, and we can play to the level of these tough competitors, but it has been our seniors who have really stepped up as the role models for the younger players.”
Among those seniors is captain Maleah Gillette. A defensive star in her own right, Gillette has started every game this season and recorded nine assists and three goals on the year.
“My goals for this season were to improve on the ice, but also to improve myself as a leader and have a lasting positive impact on the team,” Gillette said. “Off the ice, I am proud of the leader I have become.”
With their 2021-22 season coming to a close, the team looks towards Senior Night this Friday against UMass at Boss Ice Arena at 7 p.m. The game was scheduled to take place on Feb. 25, but was postponed due to inclement weather.
URI is graduating four seniors this season and Boudiette had one last message to them before the final game.
“I know when I say this I have the full support of the team behind me,” he said. “But I’d like to thank the seniors for their 100 percent commitment to the team and for all their hard work they put in, both on and off the ice. We couldn’t have accomplished all we did without you guys.”