Porter ties assists mark in 5-3 win over Wesleyan

KINGSTON, R.I. - Senior Rachel Porter (Franklin, Mass.) set up the game-winning goal, tying the Salve Regina program record for career assists in the process, as the Seahawks skated to a 5-3 non-conference victory over Wesleyan University on Friday evening at Boss Arena. 

Porter recorded her 42nd career assist in the second period, tying Caitlin Campbell (2005-09) for the program's all-time lead in helpers.

With the win, the Seahawks improve to 7-4-0 on the season, while the Cardinals drop to 3-5-0 overall.

Sophomore Sarah Markey (Ashland, Mass.) led all players with three points on a goal and two assists for Salve Regina, while classmate Michaela Chiuccariello (Winchester, Mass.)added both a goal and a helper in the win. Freshman Daniell Phalon (Stoneham, Mass.)notched the game-winner, with sophomore Taylor Shepherd (Quincy, Mass.) and seniorSamantha Zitzer (River Forest, Ill.) rounded-out the scoring for Salve Regina. Senior Ali Muehlbronner (Glenside, Pa.) made 21 saves in net to earn the win, improving to 7-4-0 on the year.

The Cardinals were led by sophomores Jordan Schildhaus (Woodbury, N.Y.) and Sarah Jankowski (Elkins, N.H.) who each compiled two points on both a goal and an assist in the loss. Sophomore Hannah Jellinek (Newton, Mass.) also scored for Wesleyan, while freshman goalie Corinne Rivard (Glendale, Ariz.) stopped 23-of-24 shots in just over 29 minutes in net.

The Seahawks jumped on the board in the seventh minute of the opening period when Markey poked the pucked loose in front of the net where Chiuccariello flipped it into the net to put SRU on top, 1-0.

Schildhaus tied the game at 1-1 before the first period came to a close, scoring at the 17:51 mark of the frame.

The Seahawks took control of the game by netting three goals within the opening 14 minutes of the second period. Zizter got things started, scoring just 1:41 into the frame, while Markey followed with the lone power-play marker of the game at 8:14. The Seahawks completed the three-goal run when Porter set up Phalon for the game-winning goal at the 13:59 mark, tying the SRU program record for assists in the process.

Refusing to go away quietly, the Cardinals answered with a pair of markers from Jellinek and Jankowski over the final four minutes of the stanza, cutting the SRU lead to 4-3 heading into the third period.

Both teams tightened up their defensive play in the third period, as neither side was able to score through the opening 19 minutes of the frame. 

Desperate for a score, the Cardinals pulled their goalie to gain an extra attacker in the final minute. However, the Seahawks managed to gain possession of the puck and put the game away with an empty-netter by Shepherd to seal the 5-3 win.

Both teams return to the ice tomorrow, with Wesleyan hosting Sacred Heart at 3 p.m. and the Seahawks welcoming Colby at 7 p.m.