Women's Hockey Flies Past Merrimack 8-2

Friday, October 31

North Andover, Mass.

2 PM

University of New Hampshire

4-4-1, 1-1-0

Merrimack

2-6-1, 0-2-0

New Hampshire

Merrimack

Photo by: UNH Athletic Communications

10/31/2025 5:58:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score

13 different Wildcats recorded a point in the win

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — The University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team skated past Merrimack College (2-6-1, 0-2-0 HEA) on Friday afternoon (Oct. 31) at Lawler Arena, posting an 8-2 performance against the Warriors.

The Wildcats jumped out to a quick lead in the opening period, netting three goals in the game's first five minutes. New Hampshire collected their first goal of the game just 2:46 into the opening frame, when Julia Cabral (Lee, N.H.) found Courtney Lilley (Wakefield, Mass.) streaking through the neutral zone, before Lilley fired on net, collecting her first goal of the season. UNH doubled the advantage 41 seconds later, when Addison Spitz (Grosse Point, Mich.) connected on a loose puck in the slot, making it a 2-0 affair. The 'Cats found their third goal in as many minutes 4:19 into the period, when Danika Botterill (Portage La Prairie, Manitoba) put the puck away in the crease, giving UNH the 3-0 advantage.

The Warriors got one back early in the middle frame, when Merrimack's Emma Pfeffer fired the puck past the defense on the power-play, cutting New Hampshire's lead to two just 37 seconds into the period. The 'Cats regained the three-goal advantage 3:39 later, when Spitz finished on a feed from Callista Printz (Buffalo, N.Y.) for her second goal of the game. Just 43 seconds after, Hannah Rodgers (Raleigh, N.C.) finished on a tap-in feed from Sydney Leonard (St. Bonifacius, Minn.) for her first of the season, giving UNH the 5-1 lead.

New Hampshire continued their offensive output 35 seconds into the third period, when Josie Linn (Excelsior, Minn.) forced a turnover behind the Merrimack net, cashing the puck on a wrap-around try to make it a 6-1 Wildcat lead. Midway through the third period, Alyson Hush (Scarborough, Ontario) found Botterill at the face-off dot, who fired on goal for the Wildcats' seventh goal of the game. With just 3:31 to play, Nina Rossi (Pittsgrove, N.J.) put away a loose puck in the crease to strike on the power-play, making it an 8-1 contest. Merrimack got one back with 1:27 to play to bring about the final 8-2 score.

Thirteen different Wildcats logged a point in the win, paced by a two goal, one assist performance from Botterill, and two-point performances from Rossi, Hush, and Spitz. Additionally, six different players logged their first point of the season with the win. Defensively, Noemi Martinez (Glen Ridge, N.J.) closed her night denying 18-of-20 shots, good for a .900 save percentage, while Sadie Makokis (St. Albert, Alberta) posted a team-high two shot blocks.

NEXT UP • HOME VS. MERRIMACK, SATURDAY, NOV. 1, 2 P.M.
The Wildcats return home on Saturday, Nov. 1, as they close out their home-and-home series against Merrimack College (2-5-1, 0-1-0 HEA) with a 2pm puck drop at the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex.

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