Seahawks fall to Middlebury

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Katie Sullivan recorded two goals, including the game-winner on the powerplay, lifting No. 2 Middlebury to an 8-2 victory versus Salve Regina Wednesday evening inside Kenyon Arena. The game marked the first meeting in the all-time series between the two schools. The Panthers will return to action Friday evening when they continue NESCAC action with a 7:00 p.m. battle at Wesleyan.

The Panthers jumped on the scoreboard early with a total of four goals in the first period. Just under three minutes in, Sullivan sent a one-timer into the back of the net following a dump-in attempt by Jennifer Krakower and a touch pass from Emily Fluke. Four minutes later, Jane Freda doubled the Middlebury advantage at the 7:01 mark on a laser shot from the point.

Not done, Sullivan tacked on her second of the period on the powerplay with a pair of crafty assists from Hannah Bielawski and Kate Moreau at 13:15. The Panthers added their fourth goal of the stanza, the team's first short-handed score of the winter, when Fluke raced ahead of the pack and threw a shot into the upper right corner of the net on an assist by Madeline Joyce.

In the second period, the Panthers made the score 5-0 at 3:37 when Katie Mandigo scored on the powerplay after an initial shot rebounded in front from Sullivan. Five minutes later, Salve Regina got on the scoreboard when Michelle Holmes secured a loose puck at center ice and put the puck in the back of the Middlebury net at 11:31.

Middlebury made it a five-goal advantage once again when Kelly Sherman scored her first collegiate goal at the 14:51 mark on another helper from Sullivan. Seconds before the break, Salve Regina notched its second goal of the stanza when Smith deflected a pass by Sarah Markey in front of the net off a helper from Taylor Shepherd.

During the final period, the Panthers added goals from Sherman and Bielawski for the final score.

Offensively, Mandigo finished with a goal and two assists, while Allie Aiello and Joyce both handed out a pair of helpers for Middlebury.

In net, Laura Pinsent tallied her first start of the year for the Panthers and recorded 11 saves against two goals allowed in the victory. Salve Regina utilized three goaltenders as Colleen Marcik logged the opening 20:00 with 13 stops and four goals allowed, while Mariah Mosher (13 saves, 2 goals allowed) and Nicole Grosser (5 saves, 2 goals allowed) each saw time between the pipes.

Salve Regina returns to the ice on Friday as the Seahawks face Holy Cross at 7 p.m.