By Michael Heilman

The Boston Pride hosted the Metropolitan Riveters on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Warrior Ice Arena Monday afternoon.

Boston jumped to a 1-0 lead with nine minutes and thirty-four seconds left in the first period as Lexi Bender, with assists from Tori Sullivan and Briana Mastel, made a backhand shot goal past the side of Riveters goalie Sam Walther. The Pride would add another goal with two minutes and thirty-four seconds left in the first period when Tori Sullivan went around Sam Walther, taking her out of position and sliding the puck in the net for a 2-0 Boston lead with assists from Lexie Laing and Carlee Toews. The Riveters responded with thirty-two seconds left in the first period as Kate Leary delivered a backhand shot goal past Pride goalie Victoria Hanson to cut Boston’s lead 2-1 as the first period ended.

Two minutes and forty-seven seconds into the second period, the Riveters tied the game 2-2 as Brooke Avery spun around and ripped the shot past Pride goalie Victoria Hanson with assists from Nicole Arnold and Tatiana Shatalova. Boston almost got the lead back only for Riveters goalie Sam Walther to slam the door shut to make the save. Both teams were playing great defense as they sacrificed their bodies to prevent the other side from scoring. Late into the second period, a tripping call against Riveters forward Madison Packer put the Pride on the power play. Boston was going to start the third period with seven seconds left on the power play as the game remained tied 2-2 at the end of the second period.

The Riveters stopped the remaining seven seconds as the third period got underway. Boston was able to regain the lead 3-2 as McKenna Brand ended her scoring drought ripping the shot past Riveters goalie Sam Walther for the goal with assists from Jillian Dempsey and Mallory Souliotis. Just as the Pride had gotten the lead back, the game was tied again two minutes later as Riveters forward Tatiana Shatalova skated past a couple of Pride defenders and shot the puck to the upper right corner of the net for a goal to once again tie the game up 3-3. Boston would once again get the lead back with eleven minutes to play in the third period as Mallory Souliotis blasted the puck that went over Sam Walther and into the back of the net for the score to make it a 4-3 Pride lead with an assist from Lexie Laing.

A high-sticking call against Riveters forward Tatiana Shatalova put Boston on the power play. The Pride extended their lead 5-3 with two minutes and thirty seconds left in the third period as Jillian Dempsey took Walther out of the goal net, passed the puck to Christina Putigna, and in for the power-play goal as both Jillian Dempsey and Lexie Laing assisted Putigna’s goal. The Boston Pride would go on to hold on to a 5-3 win over the Metropolitan Riveters to remain undefeated at 19-0.

Boston Pride outshouted the Metropolitan Riveters forty-one to seventeen. Boston was one for six on the power play while the Riveters went zero for three. Boston Pride goalie Victoria Hanson was fourteen of seventeen saves, allowing three goals, and Riveters goalie Sam Walther went thirty-six of forty-one saves, allowing five goals.

The Boston Pride will now head to the Tria Rink next weekend for two against the defending Isobel Cup champion Minnesota Whitecaps, who are on a four-game winning streak Saturday at 7 pm and Sunday at 2 pm.