Salve Regina notches first win of the season

MARLBORO, Mass. – Sophomore forward James Malone netted the game winning goal in overtime as the Salve Regina ice hockey team defeated Becker College, 2-1 in Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) action Sunday night at the New England Sports Center.

The Seahawks' (1-4-1, 0-2-1 ECAC) took the lead with a power-play goal at 14:34 for the only score in the first period. With the man-advantage, and Becker pinned deep in the zone, junior Jonathan Felteau found an open Shaun Patry at the top of the crease. Hawks netminder Tyler Stepke made the initial save but Patry tucked back the rebound under Stepke's pads to give Salve Regina the 1-0 advantage.

After a scoreless second stanza, the Ice Hawks (1-3-0, 1-2-0 ECAC) knotted the game 1-1 with a tally just 3:53 into the third frame. Freshman Dylan Durham deposited a quick slap shot past Seahawks goaltender Blake Wojtala off a set-up pass from sophomore John Dutney in the slot. It was Durham's first collegiate goal.

In the overtime period, Salve Regina notched its first win of the season as Malone scored off a scrum in front of the Becker net 1:18 into the extra frame.

The Seahawks held a 42-31 advantage in shots and finished the night 1-for-7 on the power-play. The Hawks were 0-for-5 with the man-advantage. In between the pipes, Stepke stopped 40 shots for the Hawks, while Wojtala made 30 saves for the win.

The Hawks return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Nichols College for an 8:10 p.m. match-up. Salve Regina hosts rival Western New England University on Saturday, November 21 at 2:35 p.m.