Campaign ends for Panthers with conference setback 

            MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – Sophomore Rachel Porter (Franklin, Mass.) tallied a goal and an assist and junior Rebecca Simmons (Averill Park, N.Y.) recorded her eighth career shutout Friday night as the Salve Regina University women's ice hockey team blanked Plymouth State University, 3-0, in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Women's East action at St. George's Rink.

            Sophomores Melanie Sherlock (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Sarah McCusker (Havertown, Pa.) also scored for the Seahawks, who improved to 9-12-3 on the season, 8-7-2 in conference play. Freshman Ali Ponte (Richmond Hill, Ontario) made 34 saves for the Panthers, who finished the 2010-11 season with a record of 1-21-1 (1-16-1 ECAC).

            After a scoreless first period which saw SRU outshoot Plymouth State 15-3, Porter potted her 10th goal of the season 41 seconds into the second to give the Seahawks a 1-0 lead. She skated out of the left circle and wristed a shot through the legs of Ponte. The unassisted marker was her third game-winning goal of the season. Later in the period, Sherlock took a pass from Porter and wristed a shot over Ponte's glove for her ninth of the season to increase the lead to 2-0 at 4:13. McCusker's first of the season at 13:01 off a feed from senior Kendra Andrie (Muskegon, Mich.) capped the scoring.

            Salve Regina outshot the Panthers 37-9 and killed off all four of PSU's power play chances. The Seahawks were unable to convert on five chances with the extra skater.

            The Seahawks return to action on Saturday when they close the regular season with a 4 p.m. contest against Southern Maine. 

(Courtesy of Salve Regina Sports Information) 

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