Baldwin shuts out Bison; Seahawks win 3-0

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – The Salve Regina University women's ice hockey team earn their first victory of the 2014-15 season by defeating Nichols College 3-0 on the second night of a back-to-back.

After falling in the season opener the night prior the Seahawks came storming out of the gates and never looked back after taking a 1-0 lead early in the first period.

Despite playing for the second straight night the Seahawks looked like the faster and more rested team as they continually outworked the Bison in the zone, dominating possessions along the boards and winning all of the puck battles. Multiple times Michaela Chiuccariello (Winchester, Mass.) won races down the ice to cancel potential icing calls, keeping plays alive and sustaining Salve Regina's attack.

The offense for the Seahawks kept play in the Bison's zone, however when play did tilt the other way, freshman goaltender Kelsey Baldwin (Ganesvoort, N.Y.) stood on her head at times to keep the Bison off the scoreboard. Never out of position, Baldwin saved all 20 shots she faced for her first career shutout as a Seahawk.

The Seahawks scored three goals, one in each period, on 40 shots.

Danielle Phalon (Stoneham, Mass.) got things started for the Seahawks in the first period on a wraparound goal just 3:42 into the period. The Seahawks controlled the game at the offensive blue line and a long the boards resulting in long possessions and tired legs for the Bison defenders.

The hard work continued to pay off in the second period when Meredith Peppes (Lincoln, R.I.) wristed a shot past Bison net-minder Tori Gianformaggio (Huntington Beach, Calif.) at 9:12 of the second period. The shot was generated as the result of solid work along the boards, and quick, crisp passing. The puck moved from Chiuccariello on one side behind the net, to Taylor Shepherd (Quincy, Mass.) on the wing, back out to Peppes at the point in a matter of seconds.

The Seahawks third and final goal came with a little puck luck. The Seahawks had fought to maintain a possession in the Bison zone, wristing shots into defenders in the crease and digging out rebounds along the boards. Finally Phalon controlled a rebound to the side of the net about 10 feet away and snapped a shot on goal from the off angle. The shot skipped of the goaltenders skate and ricocheted five-hole.

Despite not scoring a goal Amanda Cronin (Medfield, Mass.) had a stellar night for the Seahawks registering two assists and a being a plus three on the ice.

The Seahawks now improve to 1-1 on the season and will enjoy some rest before playing on the road versus Manhattanville on November 14 at 7 p.m.

The Bison fall to 2-2 on the season and will next play on Novemebr 14 versus UMass-Boston