Wildcats overpower Seahawks in second period

MIDDLETOWN, RI. (Friday, January 5, 2024) --In a game where much of the action was drawn from the second period, Salve Regina women's ice hockey fell 4-2 to the St. Catherine University Wildcats at home for the first game of 2024. 

Emily Wroblewski and Gina Richard were the two Salve Regina scorers in the nonconference matchup. After the buzzer sounded this evening, the Seahawks moved to 7-3-3 overall and the Wildcats elevated to 4-6-1. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Salve Regina 2, St. Catherine 4
Records: Salve Regina (7-3-3,4-2-1CCC), St. Catherine (4-6-1,1-4-1MIAC)
All-Time Series: Before the matchup began the Seahawks were 1-1 against the Wildcats. The last time the two teams met was a two-game series in 2008. The Seahawks won the first matchup 4-3 but fell 2-1 the following day. 

BREAKDOWN: 

• Period I: The Wildcats won the opening faceoff of the day and managed to get the first shot off, but Jillian Egan made the block just 16 seconds into the contest. Ashtyn Bringardner was the first Seahawk to get a shot off, going just wide. Neither team made it on the board, each taking turns attempting shots and turning over possession to the opposer. At 19:24 into the period the Wildcats were called for a slashing, beginning a five-minute stint in the penalty box which would carry over to period two. 
• Period II: The action really started when Wildcats' Lilly Gillespie changed the course of the game, getting points on the board. Gillespie's even strength success was followed up with a redeeming Seahawk goal at 4:38 into the period off the stick. of Emily Wroblewski. This brought the score to 1-1. In an effort to jump ahead once again the Wildcats sent the puck between the posts of a shot from Isabel Burt with just over nine minutes down. Less than a minute later the team scored again. Sarah Wangen was the Wildcat credited with the goal, to make the score to 3-1, which turned out to be the game-winner. However, Salve Regina proved they weren't giving up. Gina Richard took advantage of a power play opportunity to score goal two of the night (from Riley Esposito). It was a 3-2 game going into the final 20 minutes of the day. 
• Period III: Salve Regina won the opening faceoff and took the first two slapshots of the third period. After two missed shot attempts, St. Catherine had the final scoring action of the day at 8:11 into the final period. Abby Pirkl scored an even strength, unassisted goal for the Wildcats, securing their 4-2 victory. Although the Seahawks pulled the goalie with just under four minutes remaining to play, nothing came of the effort and the day ended a 4-2 defeat for Salve Regina.

NOTEWORTHY:

• St. Catherine went 0-0 on the power play and Salve Regina was 1-6. 
• The Seahawks served two minutes on one infraction and the Wildcats served 15 minutes on six infractions. 
• Salve Regina outshot St. Catherine 24-22.
• The majority of Salve Regina's shots on goal came in the second period (12). St. Catherine had their highest shots recorded in the third period (9).

THOUGHTS FROM COACH LUN ON X:

Catch head women's ice hockey coach David Lun's thoughts on today's 4-2 defeat to St. Catherine. Day two against the Wildcats tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/QRdOinHIZd

— Salve Regina Sports (@SalveAthletics) January 6, 2024

ON THE HORIZON: 

Tomorrow the Seahawks will go up against the Wildcats again with an 11:30 a.m. start time at the Cabot-Harman Ice Center in Middletown, Rhode Island.