Women's Hockey Improves to 5-1-1, Shuts Out JWU 2-0
CANTON, Mass. – The Curry College women's hockey team continued its impressive start to the season on Friday night, earning a strong 2–0 shutout victory over Johnson & Wales at the Canton Ice House. The win lifts the Colonels to 5–1–1 overall (3–1–1 CNE) and marks their third conference win behind a disciplined defensive effort and timely scoring.
After a scoreless opening period in which both teams traded early chances, Curry began to take control in the second. The Colonels broke through at 4:02 on the power play when Darby Marshall took it all by herself from the and found the net, putting Curry ahead 1–0. The goal came after sustained zone time from the Colonels' top unit and set the tone for a dominant middle frame.
Curry doubled its lead at 13:38, when Bella Mardesich capitalized on a breakaway and buried an unassisted tally to make it 2–0. Mardesich generated pressure throughout the period, finishing with a team-high +2 rating and three shots on goal. Her finish provided crucial insurance as Curry continued to dictate play heading into the final period.
Defensively, Curry was outstanding from start to finish. Goaltender Sarah Kerr earned her first win of the season in spectacular fashion, stopping all 24 shots she faced to secure the shutout. Kerr stood tall during several key penalty kills, including a stretch in the third period where the Colonels were short-handed twice within the opening four minutes. In total, Curry killed off all six JWU power plays, showcasing sharp positioning and strong shot-blocking in front of the net.
While the faceoff circle was pretty split, with the Colonels winning 20 of 41 draws, Morgan Slough (9–12) and Kayley Hansen (6–9) were both very efficient in their opportunities. While the third period became more physical—with Curry taking four penalties and JWU three—the defensive unit, anchored by Rian Faery and Megan Sawatzky, held firm to protect the two-goal advantage.
Curry finished with a narrow 26–24 edge in shots, but their ability to capitalize on loose pucks and control the pace in the second period made the difference. The victory keeps the Colonels near the top of the conference standings as they look ahead to another matchup vs the Wildcats tomorrow afternoon at Lynch Arena in Providence.
