Cardinals top Seahawks 4-1

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – The Salve Regina University women's ice hockey team is defeated by Wesleyan University, 4-1 on the campus of St. George's Academy Saturday night. 

Neither team could find consistent offense with both defenses playing at a high level, but the Cardinals, who were outshot in the game 36-31, made the most of quality scoring chances when they had them.

After a slow start for both sides Mackenzie McPike (Barrington, Ill.) scored on a tip 5:14 into the first period to put Wesleyan on top 1-0.

Play would go back and forth before a penalty against the Cardinals, hooking against Mackey Hemphill (Gill, Mass.) gave Salve Regina the first power play of the game and a chance to tie the game. The Seahawks could not convert on the power play but had found a slight groove on offense. The positive momentum was broken however by a Kimberly Spring (Kensington, Conn.) checking penalty at 12:35 of the first.

Both teams played solid defense in the second period, allowing very few quality scoring chances. The Cardinals second goal was the result of hard work and hustle. The Seahawks had control of the puck in their zone behind the net and were trying to clear along the boards to get it out. Laura Mead (Morristown, N.J) was able to rip the puck out of the corner by herself and cut in front of Salve Regina goaltender Colleen Marcik (Madison, Conn.). Marcik made the initial save on Mead's shot but the rebound hopped right back to Mead who was able to bury the second chance shot to make it 2-0.

The Seahawks would then have their best opportunity of the night to get back into the game. Two penalties called against Wesleyan came 11 seconds apart resulting on a 5-3 power play for the Seahawks. Salve Regina only managed three shots during that sequence however and none reaching the net. The Cardinals all night were willing to sacrifice their bodies to block shots.

Salve Regina would go on the power play again to end the second period, and came out flying to start the third with 1:50 of a power play left but just could not find the back of the net.

Then Jordan Schildhaus (Woodbury, N.Y.) scored for Wesleyan at 7:43 of the third off a Salve Regina turnover.  The Seahawks would respond quickly however. Michaela Chiuccariello (Winchester, Mass.)  wove her way through the Cardinals defense and wristed a shot home on a strong drive to the net at 9:43 of the third making it a two goal game once again at 3-1.

The Seahawks upped their physical play after the goal and had their best shifts of the night in the final 10 minutes but could not get any shots past the Wesley goalie Laura Corcoran (Oakville, Ontario). 

The Cardinals added an insurance goal at 18:49 when Cara Jankowski (Elkins, N.H.) scored off another turnover in the Salve Regina zone to make it 4-1.

The Seahawks (3-5-1) will not play again until January 10, 2015 when they begin a stretch if five straight road games with a match against Southern Maine.

The Cardinals (3-4-0) next play on January 3, 2015 against Plymouth State.