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Box Score 2 BOSTON, Mass. - Stevenson women's ice hockey junior McKenzie Taggart scored the game-winning goal with 8:30 remaining in the third period while freshman Chelsea Blackburn totaled two goals as the Mustangs rallied from a two-goal deficit en route to a 4-3 victory over Chatham Saturday in the semifinals of the Codfish Bowl at UMass Boston.
Stevenson (8-4), who tied last year's record total of eight, improved to 4-0 all-time against the Cougars, including 2-0 this season. The win also advanced the Mustangs to championship game of the Codfish Bowl for the first time in three years.
The team's leading scorer with nine goals this season, Blackburn opened the scoring just 6:22 into the first period before tying the game less than five miutes into the third. Her first period tally was assisted by junior captain Tori Emoff and freshman Allie Bruns who picked up her first career point.
Following Blackburn's first goal, Chatham (4-6) responded with three unanswered tallies to take a 3-1 lead with 5:38 left in the second period. Jenny Jones and Katrina Hawkins each had a goal and an assist.
Stevenson would cut its deficit in half when junior Erin McLoughlin netted her third goal of the season off an assist from junior Katie Abbott with 2:25 to play in the period.
The line combination of McLoughlin and Abbott have combined for 20 points this season with 10 goals and 10 assists. They have scored at least one point in seven of the last eight games.
Abbott and junior McKenzie Taggart connected with Blackburn for her game-tying goal just 4:39 into the third period before Taggart found the back of the net for the first time in the last five games at 11:30.
The school's career leader with 23 goals, it was the second game-winner for Taggart, both of which have come this season.
Stevenson won 35-of-43 faceoffs, led by McLoughlin who was 12-2 and Blackburn who was 6-1. Junior Brooke Webber was 5-0.
However, the Mustangs failed to score a power play goal for the third-straight game, going 0-for-4. They are 0-for-10 over that stretch after starting the season 12-for-46 for 26.1 percent.
Junior Anastassia Nelson got the start in goal, stopping 13 shots in 34:22 before giving way to junior Sarah Modzelewski who made six saves, including five in the third period to pick up her fifth win.
Megan Buchanan finished with 23 saves for Chatham.
Stevenson looks for its first win in three all-time meetings against UMass Boston in Saturday's Codfish Bowl championship game. Puck drop is at 4:00 p.m. Follow the action live here.