Seahawks wrap regular season with 3-0 win over Purple Knights

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team fell to Salve Regina University, 3-0, during Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East action at Cairns Arena on Saturday. The Purple Knights slide to 5-18-1 overall and 4-12-1 in the league, while the Seahawks improve 15-8-1 and 13-4. Salve Regina entered the day in second place in the ECAC East standings. Both teams concluded their respective regular seasons with today's game.

Sophomore starting goalie Abby Burke (Bedford, Mass./The Rivers School) stopped 17 shots in 34:42 for Saint Michael's. Classmate Tina Frasca (Norwood, Mass./Tabor Academy) collected 12 saves during 25:18 of relief. Senior Sarah Markey (Ashland, Mass./Hebron Academy)registered one goal and one assist for Salve Regina, with juniors Danielle Phalon (Stoneham, Mass./East Coast Wizards) and Kimberly Spring (Kensington, Conn./Connecticut Polar Bears) both chipping in a goal. Seniors Michaela Chiuccariello (Winchester, Mass./Charles River) and Taylor Shepherd (Quincy, Mass./Fontbonne Academy) and sophomore Amanda Cronin (Medfield, Mass./Williston Northampton School) all had one assist apiece. Sophomore Colleen Marcik (Madison, Conn./Taft School) recorded a 32-save shutout.

Despite Saint Michael's holding a 12-7 shot advantage through the opening period, the 1-0 lead belonged to Salve Regina after the first stanza. At 5:47, sophomore Michelle Holmes (Goffstown, N.H./Proctor Academy) flicked a backhanded shot from the top of the crease that was smothered by Burke. The Purple Knights then had a prime chance to score at 10:20 when junior Amanda Kempainen (Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers U19) wristed a shot from low in the slot that was saved, with the rebound kicking to sophomore Erin Dwyer (Weymouth, Mass./Charles River), who had her scoring bid denied by Marcik. Salve Regina potted the first goal after Cronin fired a blue line shot that was redirected by Markey and initially saved, but the rebound bounced to Spring, who then slammed in the puck to the right side of the net at 11:51. The Purple and Gold gave one final bid at the net when senior Fernanda Saavedra (Miami, Fla./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) laced a shot through traffic that was kicked away by Marcik with just under 10 seconds remaining.

After winning possession in the left corner at 3:20 of the second period, junior Kaly Spilhaus (Bourne, Mass./Groton School) fed a pass to first-year Sierra Hannough (Hudson, Quebec/Taft School), who was waiting with no one near her in the slot, but Hannough's shot sailed over the net. The visitors then hopped out to a 2-0 lead when Shepherd dropped back a pass just inside the blue line to Markey, who snapped a shot from the right circle and past Burke's blocker at 4:05 of the second period. The Seahawks increased the margin to three goals after Chiuccariello dished off a pass to Phalon in the neutral zone, who then skated in and buried home the puck at 14:42. Salve Regina closed out the period with five shots, but Frasca, who came in relief after the third goal, turned aside all the attempts.

The third period went scoreless, with Saint Michael's leading in shots, 13-5. At the 7:58 mark, sophomore Sarah Bagley (Concord, Mass./Concord-Carlisle) scooted up the ice on a breakaway, but her forehanded shot hit Marcik in the chest. The Purple Knights then had a Saavedra goal disallowed at 14:05 after officials ruled that she had made contact with Marcik prior to the puck going in. Salve Regina ended the stanza with final shots on net, both kicked away by Frasca.

Three Purple Knight seniors were recognized before the game as part of Senior Day: Saavedra, Maire Bartkus (Acton, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon) and Shannon Rice (West River, Md./Navy U19).

With the regular season now completed, Saint Michael's turns its attention to the ECAC Open Tournament next weekend. The Purple Knights, who serve as the host team, will play Franklin Pierce University at 4 p.m. in a semifinal round game, on Saturday.

The Seahawks will host an ECAC Women's East playoff game next Saturday February 28 at 4 p.m. at St. George's.