Bulldogs Get First Win of Season

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - In order to end the six-game winless streak that marked the start of the 2009-10 season, the Yale women's hockey team needed someone to step up. On Saturday afternoon at Messa Rink, senior forward Caroline Murphy did just that. Yale's captain delivered both goals, and sophomore goaltender Genny Ladiges made 15 saves, as the Bulldogs downed the Dutchwomen 2-1.

Murphy's effort Saturday gave her a three-point weekend.

"Murph played hard and had fun," said Yale head coach Hilary Witt. "It was a great effort. It was nice to see our seniors step up. [Defenseman] Alyssa Clarke had a great weekend, even though it doesn't show up on the stat sheet."

Murphy's first goal, at 1:41 of the second, came when she one-timed a pass from freshman forward Danielle Moncion from behind the net. The shot beat Union goalie Alana Marcinko, who was coming off a 24-save shutout from the night before and would finish Saturday's game with 28 saves.

Union (2-9-1, 0-5-1 ECAC Hockey) tied the game 10 minutes later on a goal by Jeannie Sabourin, so the two teams entered the third period with the score 1-1. Murphy got the game-winner for Yale (1-5-1, 1-5-0 ECAC Hockey) at 5:27 when she knocked in the rebound of a shot from the blue line by sophomore forward Becky Mantell.

Murphy's big weekend comes after a shakeup in Yale's lines put her with Mantell and Moncion. All three players made the most of the new arrangement. Moncion, who had been playing left wing on a different line, moved to center with Mantell on the left and Murphy on the right.

"We wanted to move Dani to a more comfortable spot for her," Witt said. "This weekend Becky played the best hockey she has played since she has been here, and Murph finished."

Ladiges made six saves in the third period to finish off the win. It was her first start of the season, as junior Jackee Snikeris had handled the first six games.

"Genny's been practicing well," Witt said. "We decided to mix it up and give her an opportunity. She did some really good things today."

Yale continues conference play with a big weekend at Ingalls Rink next weekend, hosting Harvard Friday at 7 p.m. and Dartmouth Saturday at 6 p.m.

Report by Sam Rubin '95 (sam.rubin@yale.edu), Yale Sports Publicity