Dewhirst accounts for all Colby goals as Mules win 3-2

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. - Freshman forward Maddie Dewhirst (Hanover, N.H.) scored her first collegiate goal in the first period, her second in the second period, and Colby College held on for a 3-2 victory over Salve Regina University in non-league women's ice hockey action at St. George's Ice Arena in Middletown, R.I.

The first year forward gave the Mules a 1-0 lead at 12:07 into the first when she pulled the puck out of the front left corner, snaked her way around Seahawk skaters, and snapped her shot over senior Ali Muehlbronner's (Glenside, Pa.) left shoulder.

Dewhirst's second goal came on a delayed penalty at 3:10 in the second. Both of her goals came unassisted.

Facing the Mules for the first time ever, the Seahawks did not go away. Salve Regina scored its first goal 12 seconds into a power-play opportunity when sophomore Sarah Markey (Ashland, Mass.) followed up a shot on net by senior Rachel Porter (Franklin, Mass.) and drilled in the rebound at 2:50 into the third period. Porter's helper placed her in first place all alone on the Seahawks' career assists list.

The senior defenseman assisted on the next Seahawk goal as well, the 44th of her career. Salve Regina capitalized on a 6-on-4 power play with sophomore Taylor Shepherd (Quincy, Mass.) finding the net. Senior Sarah McCusker (Havertown, Pa.) provided an assist on the game-tying goal at the 4:44 mark.

Colby (4-4) took advantage of its next power play opportunity, scoring 40 seconds into it. After the Mules advanced the puck into the zone, junior forward Natalie Fischer (Freeland, Md.) skated across the back middle and unleashed her shot that sailed over Muehlbronner's glove into the back of the net. Dewhirst registered her third assist of the season on the game-winner.

Junior goalie Brianne Wheeler (Brussels, Ontario) stopped 32 shots in total, including 15 in the final period, to pick up her fourth victory of the season. Muehlbronner made 28 saves for the Seahawks who slip to 7-5 overall.

Salve Regina returns to the ice when it plays at Neumann University on January 8. The Mules skate against NESCAC foe Amherst next month.