Wildcats top Seahawks in OT

PAWTUCKET, RI – Julia Martinsson scored with 1:32 left in the overtime period to lift the Johnson & Wales University women's ice hockey team to victory on Friday over visiting Salve Regina, 2-1.

Johnson & Wales scored first with a goal in the opening period. Linn Fernström (Karlstad, Sweden) fed the puck to freshman Drea Westgaard (Elk River, Minn.) on the breakaway and she beat Jennifer O'Connell with a backhander.

Salve Regina tied the game in waning minutes of the third period. On the power play, the Seahawks pulled O'Connell to create a 6-on-4 advantage. Meredith Peppes slap shot from the point made it through the traffic in front of the goal and into the back of the net.

In overtime Westgaard poked the puck to Martinsson (Charlottenberg, Sweden) as the Wildcats came down the ice on a 2-on-1 break. Martinsson's wrist shot found the top right-hand corner of the net for the game-winner. It's the first game-winning goal of her collegiate career.

Johnson & Wales is back at home on Saturday to take on Stevenson at 6:55 p.m., while Salve Regina plays host to Nichols College at 7 p.m.