Seahawks and Camels go 2-2

NEW LONDON, Conn.-- For the team's second tie of the season, Seahawk women's ice hockey tied the game late in the third period for a 2-2 result against the Connecticut College Camels in nonconference action on Saturday. 

Gina Richard and Riley Esposito were the two Salve Regina scorers. At 9:28 into the evening Richard followed the Camels who had the first goal of the contest. It wasn't until the last five minutes in the third period that the Seahawks made the move to tie the game. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Salve Regina 2, Connecticut College 2
Records: Salve Regina (5-1-2,2-1-1 CCC), Connecticut College (1-1-1,1-1-0 NESCAC)
All-Time Series: Going into the game the Seahawks had a 3-12-3 record against the Camels. The last time the teams met was in January of 2023 and was an 8-0 loss for Salve Regina. 

BREAKDOWN: 

• Period I: Riley Esposito and Camels' Claire Sammons found themselves in the circle for the first duel of the day, with Connecticut winning the faceoff. The Camels were the first to score three minutes into the contest. The even strength goal was scored by Sydney Cresta on a pass from the blue line. Cresta tipped it in from the right side. Salve Regina went on the powerplay at 7:27 when the Camels were called for roughing. Emma Pereira almost got the Seahawks on the board at 11:15 but Devon Galizio, in net for the Camels, made the save. Pereira was followed up with another wrist shot from Emily Wroblewski that was saved. As the Camels' powerplay was ending the Seahawks made it to the net thanks to Gina Richard (from Maddie Cox and Emma Pereira). The goal was even strength. Just past the blue line the Richard took a chance, she rebounded the puck and scored. Both teams were 0-1 on the power play after 20 minutes.
• Period II: In the early stages of period two both teams were aggressive with the forecheck. At 19:01 the Camels were called for hooking putting the Seahawks on the power play. The Camels provided a strong penalty kill and prevented the Seahawks from scoring. After several back-and-forth scoreless minutes, the Seahawks were called for rouging with just over 14 minutes on the clock. Ellee Kopecky, between the posts, maded several critical saves during the Seahawk penalty kill. The skaters also supported Kopecky's goaltending with several blocks to finish out the Camels' power play. Both teams moved to 0-2 on the power play. Kopecky saved a shot off her glove with 10:26 to go in the second period, moving to a 20-8 shot advantage for Connecticut College. Morgan Peritz took a wrist shot at 9:20, saved by the Camels' goalie. With 1:53 in the period the Camels had an attacking zone draw, immediately taking a wrist shot and Emma Gotthelf made the block. The Seahawks brought it down to the Camels end, with a quick turnaround back to Salve Regina's end. In a three on two dynamic the Seahawks brought it down and the puck remained in the Seahawk attack zone but never made it to the net. The period was scoreless for both sides, remaining 1-1 going into the final 20 minutes in regulation. 
• Period III: The action started from the left faceoff circle in the Camels' attack zone. Serena Seiple changed the course of the day with an even strength goal at 2:42. This brought the game to 2-1 in favor of the Camels'. Immediately following the success, the Camels' responded with another charge but Kopecky came out to make the save. A delayed penalty was called on Connecticut for cross-checking, giving Salve Regina another opportunity at an additional skater on the ice. Richard took several shots, unable to find the back of the net. Just as the teams returned to even strength Connecticut went on the penalty kill yet again, this time for tripping. It was a one goal game at 5:09 in regulation and Riley Esposito brought it back to a tie by scoring her third goal of the season. Esposito was assisted on the even-strength goal by Emily Wroblewski and Gina Richard. Both teams had to make something happen with a 2-2 tie. At 2:28 Kopecky lunged out to make a save, stopping the game and leading to a Camel timeout. Although both teams made back and forth efforts, regulation ended 2-2 and the game continued to overtime. 
• OT: After the faceoff Maddie Cox took an immediate off-target shot followed by the same action from the camels to begin the five-minute overtime. The teams took a center ice draw with 1:30 to go in the period. To end the day the Seahawks brought the puck to Connecticut's end. Taylor Stirling took a shot from the left faceoff circle in the Seahawk attack zone at the buzzer but the game ended in a 2-2 tie. 

NOTEWORTHY:

• During regulation the Seahawks took 30 shots, 14 of which were on goal. The Camels took 52 shots with 31 shots on goal.
• Salve Regina had two penalties in regulation and Connecticut was called on four infractions. 
• The Seahawks won 17 faceoffs and the Camels won 34 faceoffs in 60 minutes. 
• Ellee Kopecky made 33 saves and allowed two goals, giving her a save percentage of .943. 
• Devon Galizio of the Camels' made 13 saves and allowed two goals. She finished off the game with a .867 save percentage for the evening. 

ON THE HORIZON: 

The team has a week to get several more practices in before they take on Curry College on Sunday, December 3 at 1 p.m.