Seahawks suffer tough 4-3 OT loss to Valiants

NEWPORT, R.I. - The Salve Regina University women's ice hockey team scored with just 39 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime, before eventually dropping a tough 4-3 decision versus Manhattanville during an Eastern College Athletic Conference Women's East (ECACE) matchup at St. George's Ice Rink on Saturday night. The loss drops the Seahawks to 5-3-0 overall and 3-3-0 during conference play, while the Valiants improve to 3-2-1 on the season, including a 3-0-1 record in the ECACE.

The Seahawks received goals from  freshman Kelsey Lynch (Collegeville, Pa.), sophomore Taylor Shepherd (Quincy, Mass.), and freshman Danielle Phalon (Stoneham, Mass.), while seniors Rachel Porter (Franklin, Mass.) and Melanie Sherlock (Colorado Springs, Colo.) each dished-out an assist. Senior Ali Muehlbronner (Glenside, Pa.) played well in net, making a game-high 41 saves while falling to 5-3-0 on the year.

Sydney Alsselstine scored the game-winner in overtime for the Valiants, while senior Sonia Occhionero (Montreal, Quebec), senior Katie Little (Victoria, B.C.), and sophomore Trenah Stauffer (Salmon, Idaho) also added markers. Senior Mary Rose Morrison (Ridgefield, Conn.) contributed a pair of helpers, while junior goalie Mary Evans (Detroit, Mich.) made 35 saves to improve to 3-2-1 on the season.

The Seahawks got the scoring started in the 17th minute, as Lynch intercepted a pass, sliced through a pair of defenders and fired a slap shot into the back of the net to put Salve Regina on top, 1-0.

Salve Regina held its one-goal lead into the second period, until Morrison set up Occhionero for the game-tying score at the 7:17 mark of the frame.

The Valiants were back at it less than two minutes later when Morrison fed Little for a power-play goal to give Manhattanville its first lead of the game, 2-1.

Still trailing by one with under four minutes remaining in the third period, the Seahawks received a power-play opportunity and took advantage of the extra-man situation. Phalon received a pass from Sherlock at center ice and proceeded to zig-zag her way around three defenders before beating the Valiants goalie with a wrister to tie the game at 2-2.

However, Manhattanville answered just 80 seconds later, reclaiming the lead, 3-2, when Stauffer blasted a slap shot from just inside the blue line into the left side of the net.

With only 1:44 remaining in regulation, the Seahawks decided to pull the goalie. The aggressive move paid off, as Phalon ripped a shot high off the glass which swung around the boards to Porter, who immediately crossed a pass to the far left post where Shepherd deflected it home with just 39 seconds to tie the game at 3-all and send the two teams into overtime.

Just 1:14 seconds into overtime, the Valiants scored a controversial goal for the game-winner. Senior Alyssa Taylor (Craik, Saskatchewan) raced toward the net and fired a wrister off the post. Her momentum then carried her into the goalie, knocking the net loose just as Asselstine slapped the rebound into the goal. The referees conferred with each other at mid-ice and decided to allow the goal, resulting in a 4-3 overtime victory for Manhattanville.

Both teams will return to action on the road this Tuesday at 7 p.m., with the Valiants facing Neumann and the Seahawks battling Connecticut College.