St. Thomas sophomore forward Whitney Horton scored two goals to lead the Tommies to a 7-2 victory over the New Hampshire Wildcats Friday in the Tommies’ season opener and the first of a two-game series at Lee and Penny Anderson Arena.
St. Thomas jumped out to a 5-0 lead through two periods and extended it in the third despite a late push from New Hampshire, with scoring spread between both new and returning Tommies.
“Overall, we’re really happy with the performance,” coach Bethany Brausen said. “Any time you win and put out some numbers like that, it’s good. It’s always hard to start the season, but we’re really excited about what’s ahead.”
Horton scored in the first few minutes of the game, followed by first-year defenseman Kenleigh Fischer. Fischer scored her first collegiate goal in the final minutes of the first period, giving the Tommies an early 2-0 lead.
Brausen said Fischer’s early impact as a first-year player was notable.
“Kenleigh is obviously a very gifted young player,” Brausen said. “To see her get on the score sheet so early, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s going to be one of very many for her in the future.”
Junior forward Chloe Boreen and senior forward Cara Sajevic then scored back-to-back goals midway through the second period, with Sajevic capitalizing on a rebound that senior Wildcat goaltender Sedona Blair couldn’t control. Horton followed by scoring her second of the night off another loose puck in front of the net to bring St. Thomas to a 5-0 lead heading into the third period.
The Tommies further extended their lead when junior defenseman Taylor Porthan scored her own second-chance shot for her first collegiate goal midway through the final period. Porthan transferred to UST from Providence this offseason.
“It was super fun to see (Fischer and Porthan) get on the score sheet,” Brausen said. “For them to come out there and have that confidence and find the back of the net early in the season not only helps both of them individually, but also our program to know that we’ve got some goal scoring coming from different areas, fresh faces, people that are just learning those systems for the first time.”
New Hampshire answered with goals from sophomore defenseman Aurora Kahlert and junior forward Courtney Lilley late in the third period, while St. Thomas junior forward Nora Sauer also found the back of the net.
Despite the dominant night for the Tommies, Brausen said, “there’s plenty to work on.”
“I think as high-achieving people, whether it’s the coaches, the athletes, we’re all naturally so competitive, and we’re going to see those little gaps,” Brausen said. “We’ll talk about it and learn from it. But to play a team like UNH who has a really strong history and a great program, there’s a lot to be celebrated, too.”
St. Thomas will face New Hampshire again on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m. at Lee and Penny Anderson Arena to finish the two-game series.
Reagan Boschulte can be reached at bosc3829@stthomas.edu.
