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SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS
Posted: Nov 02, 2013

Johnson, Shepherd trigger third-period rally

Taylor Shepherd scored the game-winner with a blast from the center just inside the blue line, zipping past the Neumann goalie on the left.
Taylor Shepherd scored the game-winner with a blast from the center just inside the blue line, zipping past the Neumann goalie on the left.
Preview

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. - Salve Regina University women's ice hockey opened its season with a 2-1 win over Neumann University in non-league action from St. George's in Middletown.

After a scoreless first period with the Seahawks outshooting the Knights (eight to five) and having twice as many power-play opportunities (four to two), junior Amanda Simpson (Anaheim, Calif.) put the visitors on the board in the second period. Simpson cleaned up a rebound after Salve Regina goaltender Mariah Mosher (Auburn, Maine) turned away freshman Meghan Power (Windsor, Ontario) coming down on her left side.

Sophomore forward Shelby Johnson (Sterling, Mass.) beat Mosher's counterpart, Justina Mayr (New Westminster, B.C.), high on the glove side with a left-handed wrist shot to tie the score at 1-1 with 4:45 elapsed in the third period.

Salve Regina (1-0), winning for only the fourth time in a season-opener, had 11 power play opportunities in the game including a five on three situation at 7:20 in the third period when Neumann was whistled for too many skaters on the ice. Seahawk eighth-year head coach Michael Cox called a timeout to take advantage of the opportunity.

Just as the Knights' got stronger with one of its penalties released, junior captain Taylor Shepherd (Quincy, Mass.) unleashed her blast from the center of the blue line to beat Mayr low on the glove side.

Likewise, when Salve Regina went shorthanded at 16:45 in the third, first-year head coach Kelly Rider gathered her squad along the boards in front of the Knights' bench with instructions on when they were going to empty the net. With 30 seconds left in its power-play, Neumann had six skaters against Salve Regina's four.

The Knights (0-1) were unable to get a shot on goal while Salve Regina had one attempt strike the post. In the closing minute, Salve Regina kept the puck along the boards in the Neumann zone; after it cleared the blue line, a Seahawk skater sent it back in to the empty net but the goal was disallowed due to offsides.

Mosher had 15 saves in her first collegiate start while Mayr finished with 22 stops. Neumann has a pair of home games with St. Anselm next weekend. Salve Regina plays its next three games on the road beginning with a trip to Worcester next Saturday for its 26th meeting with Holy Cross.