Fast and furious for Seahawks over Spartans, 6-2

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. - Salve Regina University senior Sarah Markey (Ashland, Mass.) scored the fastest goal in Seahawk history, just eight seconds into the opening period, and added an empty net goal in the third period during a 6-2 win against Castleton State College in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Women's East hockey action at St. George's.

The Seahawks (3-3-0; 3-3-0 ECAC) were in command from the outset, outshooting the Spartans (5-3-1; 3-2-1 ECAC) in the first period, 16-8. But they had only Markey's goal, assisted by Taylor Shepherd (Quincy, Mass.), to show for it against junior goaltender Jess Cameron (Mt. Elick, Prince Edward Island).

Salve Regina also squandered three power-play opportunities in the first period. However, they capitalized on the very first one of the second period. Danielle Phalon (Stoneham, Mass.) made it a 2-0 score after a Samantha Pion (Easthampton, Mass.) penalty, two minutes into the second. Molly O'Sullivan (Wilmington, N.C.) and Megan Geier (Glastonbury, Conn.) assisted on Phalon's team-leading fourth goal of the season.

The Spartans came roaring right back with a pair of goals from their leading scorer. Taylor Steadman (Hartford, Vt.) scored her seventh goal at 10:11, and tied the game with her eighth goal at 12:24, spoiling a bid at a third straight Saturday with a shutout for Salve Regina.

Another power-play opportunity for the Seahawks went by the boards before the end of the period.

In the third period, Salve Regina successfully killed two penalties, leaving the visitors 0-for-4 on the power play. Defenseman Amanda Cronin (Medfield, Mass.) flipped in a rebound off a Cameron save for the go-ahead power-play goal at 17:45, with assists credited to Shepherd and Markey.

The advantage quickly grew to two when Geier scored her first collegiate goal at 18:34. After the ensuing face-off, Cameron emptied the net and the Spartans had an extra skater as they moved into their offensive zone. Cronin took the puck away and fed Markey at the blue line, and the forward carried it through the neutral zone before firing on the empty net for her second goal of the game with 57 seconds remaining.

Back in net for the face-off, Cameron returned to the bench in lieu of an extra skater, but Phalon's fifth goal of the season finished the scoring for a 6-2 final.

Both teams are in action next Sunday, November 30, at NESCAC schools: Salve Regina at Connecticut College, and Castleton at Williams College.