Simmons earns 10th career shutout in 5-0 win

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – Senior goaltender Rebecca Simmons (Averill Park, N.Y.) collected her 10^th career shutout, as the Salve Regina University women's hockey team earned a 5-0 victory over Plymouth State University during ECAC Women's East action at St. George's Ice Rink on Saturday night. The win improves the Seahawks to 9-5-4 overall and 5-4-3 during conference play, while the Panthers fall to 1-13-3 on the season and 1-9-2 in the conference.

Junior Rachel Porter (Franklin, Mass.) paved the way for the Seahawks offensively, leading all players with three points on a goal and two assists, while junior Caitlyn Farragher (Plymouth, Mass.) scored a pair of goals, including the game-winning score.

The Seahawks wasted little time grabbing the lead, as Farragher scored the game's first goal just 36 seconds into the opening period.

Salve Regina expanded its lead to 2-0 before the end of the first period, as freshman Sarah Markey (Ashland, Mass.) collected a rebound off a shot from Porter and found the back of the net for the lone power play goal of the contest.

The Seahawks added a pair of goals in the second period to stretch their lead to 4-0. Freshman Taylor Shepherd (Quincy, Mass.) set up Porter at the 7:12 mark of the middle frame, while Farragher scored her second goal of the contest a little over 10:30 later.

Salve Regina iced the 5-0 victory in the third period when sophomore Molly Houston (Hampton, N.H.) scored off a terrific feed from Porter.

Simmons stopped all 10 shots she faced in net for the Seahawks, earning her 10^th career shutout while improving to 6-4-2 on the season.  Sophomore Ali Ponte (Richmond Hill, Ontario) made a game-high 33 saves in a losing effort between the pipes for the Panthers.

The Panthers won't return to the ice until Friday when they host St. Michael's at 6 p.m., while the Seahawks will be back in action on Tuesday, welcoming Trinity to St. George's Ice Rink for a 7 p.m. faceoff.