Seahawks edge Panthers 3-2

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore Briana D'Avolio (Reading, Mass.) scored a pair of goals Tuesday evening to lead Salve Regina University past Plymouth State University, 3-2, in a women's New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) game at Hanaway Rink.

The Seahawks came back from a 1-0 deficit midway through the game with three consecutive goals to secure the victory. Salve improves to 8-11-2 overall and 6-6-1 in the NEHC, while PSU had its two-game winning streak stopped and fell to 8-14-0 overall and 4-10 in conference play.

After a scoreless opening period, freshman Brooke Maggy (Alhambra, Calif.) put the home team on the scoreboard 12 minutes into the middle frame with her third goal of the season. Maggy put a shot past the goaltender from the left circle with assists going to senior Olivia Leon (Natick, Mass.) and sophomore Shannon Hickey (Arlington, Mass.)

Salve pulled even with just a minute and a half left in the second period when D'Avolio snapped a shot through the goalie's pads from the left circle, with assists from sophomore Meredith Peppes (Lincoln, R.I.) and junior Amanda Cronin (Medfield, Mass.).

The Seahawks grabbed their first lead of the game at 7:26 of the third period when Cronin fed senior Danielle Phalon (Stoneham, Mass.) from behind the net and Phalon potted her 12th goal of the season. Salve pushed the margin to 3-1 with just 2:54 remaining in the game when D'Avolio fired a shot from just inside the blue line that went through the goalie's pads. D'Avolio now has 15 goals this season, tied for the NEHC lead.

PSU didn't go away, and after pulling the goalie, junior defenseman Haley Branovan (Canandaigua, N.Y.) skated over the blue line, cut to the middle, and snapped a shot over the goalie's shoulder to cut the margin to 3-2 with 1:12 on the clock. The Panthers got an extra attacker on again in the final minute, but couldn't get the equalizer.

Freshman goalie Jennifer O'Connell (Marstons Mills, Mass.) earned the victory for Salve, making 13 saves. Freshman Emelie Lindqvist (Gullerason, Sweden) made 28 saves for PSU as the visitors finished with a 31-15 advantage in shots on goal.

Both teams play NEHC games on Friday as Salve hosts Nichols College at 7:00 p.m. and PSU entertains Franklin Pierce University on Senior Night at Hanaway Rink, beginning at 6:00 p.m.