In the offensive zone, Katie Granato '19 was a force to be reckoned with, as the third-year forward guided the No. 3/5 women's ice hockey team to a pair of impressive shutout victories over United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) foe King's (Pa.). In the two games combined, EC beat the Monarchs 20-0, as the Purple and Gold racked up the most goals they've scored in consecutive games in six seasons. In the series finale on Sunday, the Soaring Eagles tallied a season-high 11 goals, the most in a single game since January 20, 2012.
Granato opened the series with career highs in points (4) and goals (3), as the Soaring Eagles walloped the Monarchs 9-0 on Saturday afternoon. She not only led all scorers in both categories in the game, but her three goals mark the first hat trick of her collegiate career. Her first goal came on the power play late in the second period and she completed the hat trick by notching back-to-back goals in the third. She also assisted on a power-play goal netted by
Sarah Hughson '18 midway through the first period. On Sunday afternoon, the Naperville, Illinois, native finished with a game-high-tying three points on a goal and two helpers. Granato was credited with assists on second-period goals from
Tristen Tolan '21 and Hughson, with the latter once again coming on the power-play. She then joined in the scoring act 27 seconds into the third period, as she skated past the lone defender on a one-on-one rush and deposited the puck top shelf with a backhanded attempt.
On the season, Granato is tied for the team lead in points (8) and is second in goals (4). Nationally, she is tied with Hughson for fourth in all of Division III with 2.67 points per game and sits fourth in goals per game average with 1.33.
Granato and the No. 3/5 nationally-ranked EC women will continue UCHC play this weekend, when they host the Mustangs of Stevenson University at the Murray Athletic Center. The 2017-18 home opener is slated for Friday, November 17, with the opening puck drop at 7:00 p.m.
