By Michael Heilman

The Boston Pride returned to action Saturday night against the Connecticut Whale in front of their home crowd at Warrior Ice Arena. The fans were not disappointed.

It took a while for Boston to get things going as Mary Parker scored with an assist from Mallory Souliotis to put Boston up 1-0 thirteen minutes and fifteen-seconds into the first period. Boston would add another goal two minutes later as Lexi Bender scored with an assist from McKenna Brand to extend the lead 2-0. Boston headed to the locker room with a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period.

Connecticut fought hard to keep the game at 2-0, but Boston would extend the lead with under two minutes to play in the second period as Mary Parker got her second goal of the game with Alyssa Wohlfeiler, and Emily Fluke both assisting Parker’s goal. Boston led 3-0 at the end of the second period.

Boston then exploded for five goals as Jillian Dempsey scored at the four-minute and forty-five-second mark to make it a 4-0 lead. McKenna Brand added her name to the score sheet to make it a 5-0 lead. Less than ten seconds later, Lexie Laing also added her name to the score sheet to make it a 6-0 lead with both Lexi Bender, and Carlee Toews assisting Laing’s goal.

Connecticut then changed goalies as Brooke Wolejko came in for Sonjia Shelly with hopes to stop the bleeding. Changing goalies for the Whale’s worked for a bit, but Lexie Laing would get her second goal of the game to make it a 7-0 Boston lead as both Carlee Toews, and Tori Sullivan assisted Laing’s goal. Boston went on a power play late in the third period as Whale’s forward Emma Vlasic headed to the penalty box for cross-checking. Boston’s Mary Parker completed the hat trick goal to make it an 8-0 Boston lead. Alyssa Wohlfeiler and Lauren Kelly assisted Parker’s goal. The final horn sounded, and the Boston Pride defeated the Connecticut Whale 8-0 shutout win to remain undefeated at 9-0.

Boston dominated the shots on goal total with fifty-eight to the Whale’s eighteen. Boston goalie Victoria Hanson earned the shutout win, saving all eighteen shots. Connecticut’s Sonjia Shelly saved forty-five of fifty-one shots allowing six goals, and Brooke Wolejko made five of seven saves allowing two goals.

The three stars of the game were Boston forward Lexie Laing with two goals, Boston forward Mary Parker with three goals, and Boston goalie Victoria Hanson with eighteen saves.

Both of these teams will be back in action next Saturday as the Connecticut Whale host the Buffalo Beauts at Danbury Ice Arena Saturday at 4:30 pm. Boston will host the Metropolitan Riveters at the Warrior Ice Arena Saturday at 6:30 pm.