WORCESTER (Interstat) — Taylor Thompson made 32 saves and Assumption scored twice in the first period to defeat Sacred Heart 2-0 in a women’s NCAA Division I hockey game Friday at Laska Gymnasium. Attendance was 211. Assumption improved to 3-0-1, while visiting Sacred Heart fell to 0-3. The home Greyhounds protected a two-goal lead through a scoreless final two periods, and Thompson turned away every Pioneers attempt to preserve the shutout.

Assumption took the lead at 12:03 of the first period when Annie Forker scored, with Kayla McGaffigan assisting. Kaitlyn Cielo doubled the advantage at 15:07, scoring off an assist from Alexa Hanrahan. The two goals came during a first period that included three Sacred Heart penalties. Amanda Ranaudo was called for tripping at 7:15, Magda Felcmanova received a crosschecking penalty at 13:06, and Maddie Smith was sent off for holding at 15:01. Sacred Heart trailed by two after the opening period. Assumption had three power plays in the opening period and scored once with the advantage.

The Pioneers continued to press but could not solve Thompson. Sacred Heart’s Katie Downey was penalized for indirect contact to the head at 21:33 of the second period, and Ella Holm was called for interference at 25:44. Assumption’s Isabella DiReda was whistled for tripping at 33:22. In the third period, Assumption’s Alexa Hanrahan received a five-minute elbowing penalty at 47:55, and Allison Ryan was called for tripping at 50:21. Sacred Heart could not convert on the power play, and Thompson finished with 32 saves on 32 shots to earn the win. The Pioneers had several chances in the second and third periods, but Thompson remained steady in net.

Thompson, a 5-foot-5 goalkeeper from Forest Lake, Minnesota, who played at Forest Lake Senior High School, previously made 23 saves on 25 shots in a 2-2 tie at Holy Cross this season. She finished with 32 saves on 32 shots. Forker, a 5-foot-6 right wing who attended Choate Rosemary Hall, scored one goal and put three shots on net. Hanrahan, a 5-foot-5 center from Gentry Academy, recorded one assist, four shots and five penalty minutes. Cielo, a 5-foot-5 left defenseman who played at Northwood, added one goal, three shots and one hit. McGaffigan, a 5-foot-7 center from Tabor Academy, had one assist and two shots. Caroline Lilley, a 5-foot-7 right wing from Cushing Academy, recorded seven shots. Sacred Heart’s Ella Holm, a center from Moorhead High School, had two shots and two penalty minutes. Addie Bowlby, a left wing from Burnsville High School, recorded seven shots for the Pioneers. Assumption’s Sydney Burnevik, a 5-foot-6 center from Champlin Park High School, had two shots. Sacred Heart’s Katie Downey, a center, finished with two shots and two penalty minutes.

Sacred Heart dropped its third straight game to open the season after earlier losses to Providence, a 3-0 defeat and a 4-2 setback. Assumption remained unbeaten through four games, adding the win to a 2-2 tie at Holy Cross and victories over Saint Michael’s, 2-1 and 6-2. The Greyhounds’ defense limited Sacred Heart’s best chances in the final two periods, while the Pioneers finished with several strong shot totals but no goals. The teams are set for a rematch. Sacred Heart will then continue its schedule against Long Island, Franklin Pierce, Stonehill, Quinnipiac and Saint Anselm. Assumption will follow the rematch with games against Saint Anselm, Mercyhurst, Long Island, Franklin Pierce and Stonehill.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Assumption 4, Sacred Heart 2, and its ELO system gave Assumption a 53.6 percent probability to win. The teams are scheduled to meet again in their next game.