BOSTON, Mass.—Sydney Tietz' goal midway through the third period proved to be the difference, as Suffolk University handed UMass Boston women's hockey a hard-fought 2-1 loss on "Pink the Rink" Day. 
THE BASICS

UMass Boston 2, Suffolk University 2

(UMass Boston 1-4-1, New England Hockey Conference 0-4-0)
(Suffolk University 2-3-1, New England Hockey Conference 2-1-1) 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Tietz sent a rocket of a shot from just inside the blue line, over Caty Flagg's (Metheun, Mass.) shoulder to give the Rams their first lead of the game with 10:14 remaining in the game. 

UMass Boston would create several chances to tie the game late in the period, but couldn't solve Suffolk's Kristen Caporusso. 

Beacons freshman Hannah MacDougall scored her team-leading third goal of the season. Sophomore Cailey Kozich (Wexford, Pa.) and freshman Addie Budington (Winnetka, Ill.) each earned assists on the power-play tally. 

In net, Flagg made 19 saves on 21 shots, including several stops on Suffolk breakaways. 

Shana Cote and Tietz scored for the visitors, who spoiled the Beacons efforts to win in front of a large home crowd. 

Caporusso made 33 saves on 34 shots in her second start of the season. 

Neither side was able to score in a back-and-forth first period. The Beacons led 14-11 in shots and had several great breakaway chances, but Caporusso was able to deny Mia Sacco (Plymouth, Mass.) and Jane Ann Drill (Madison, Wisc.). 

UMass Boston opened the scoring on their first power-play chance of the second period. After having a goal waived off on a crease violation early in the man advantage, MacDougall tipped home Kozich's shot from the far circle to give the Beacons a 1-0 lead at 4:36 of the period. 

Suffolk took the wind out of the Beacons sails with a goal with five seconds left in the stanza. Cote received a pass from Stephanie Moy and skated into the zone on a partial breakaway, before beating Flagg just inside the far post. 

The Rams came out firing to start the third period, only to have the Beacons find their legs and even the matchup. 

Tietz shocked the entire crowd with her goal at 9:46. The sophomore skated past the red line with two Beacons defenseman in front of her, crossed the blue line and teed up a hard-line drive shot that was still rising when it went in. 

UMass Boston upped their pressure in the final five minutes, as they searched for an equalizer.

Kelsey Ryan (Burlington, Mass.) forced a pad save and the rebound bounced out to a wide-open Leffler, but the puck bounced over her stick as she tried to score in the empty-net. 

The Beacons forced two more saves from Caporusso in the final 20 seconds, with Kozich and Erica Lunn (Kingston, Mass.) both having their shots stopped. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• UMass Boston outshot the Rams 34-21, including 13-3 in the second period. Suffolk earned a 33-14 edge in face-offs. 
• Saturday was the Beacons "Pink the Rink" game and their Alumni Day. 
• With the loss, UMass Boston falls to 1-2-1 all-time against the Rams. The losing team has finished with one goal in all three games where there has been a winner. 
• UMass Boston went 1-4 on the power-play, while Suffolk finished 0-1. The Beacons are now a perfect 21-for-21 on the penalty kill this season. 
• Budington is tied with Drill for the team lead with her three assists. 

WHO'S NEXT 

The Beacons will look to snap their four-game losing skid on Friday, when they travel to take on Plymouth State University at 6 p.m.