FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Seth Cole - Phone: 802.654.2537

Box Score: http://www.collegehockeystats.net/1011/boxes/wscastm1.j02.

Photos (taken by Mary Ann Graf): http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/wice/2010-11/photos/0008/index.

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team (2-10-1) ended play at the sixth annual SMC Holiday Classic on Sunday with a 4-2 loss to Saint Catherine University at Cairns Arena.

For Saint Catherine (6-4-1), juniors Kayla Clafton (Grand Rapids, Minn.) and Kelsey Abrahamson (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) recorded a goal and an assist apiece. Sophomore Becky Clifton (Imperial, Mo.) and senior Katie Lawler (Cottage Grove, Minn.) also scored for the Wildcats, while senior Jessica Feltes (Des Plaines, Ill.) and classmate Meghan Lange (West St. Paul, Minn.) handed out two assists each. Sophomore Kayla Lange (Andover, Minn.) stopped 12 shots to earn the win as Saint Catherine completed play at the three-team tournament with a 1-1 record.

Sophomore Allison Graf (Long Lake, Minn./Minnesota Thoroughbreds) tallied a goal and an assist, earning All-Tournament Team honors, in the loss. Junior Emily Elliott (Casper, Wyo./Colorado Selects) also scored for the Purple Knights, while junior Kelly McDonald (South Burlington, Vt./South Burlington) and freshman Macey Thomas (Amherst, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon School) earned an assist apiece. Senior Alysia Goldman (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Hebron Academy) recorded 40 saves in the loss, Saint Michael's second setback of the tournament.

Colby College won both of its games at the tournament, versus Saint Michael's on Friday and Saint Catherine on Saturday, to win the team title.

The Purple Knights opened strong versus Saint Catherine, as Graf scored on the power play just 34 seconds into the contest, and Elliott also scored on the power play later in the period, giving the hosts as 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of action.

Saint Catherine then took advantage of power play opportunities in the second period, as the Wildcats scored three times with the man-advantage in the frame to take a 3-2 lead. The third goal of the frame, scored by Clafton with 2:35 left in the stanza, proved to be the game-winner.

The Wildcats sealed the win with 8:47 left in the third period on Abrahamson's score, and Saint Michael's generated just two shots on goal in the final period to limit its chances at a comeback.

Clafton and Abrahamson earned spots on the All-Tournament Team for Saint Catherine, as did Graf and junior Madelena Santore (Millington, N.J./New Jersey Rockets/Rutgers Univ.) for Saint Michael's. Rounding out the All-Tournament Team selections were Colby's Stephanie Scarpato, who was named the Tournament MVP, and Samantha Slotnick.

Saint Michael's next plays on January 14, visiting Salve Regina University at 12:30 p.m.

-PURPLEKNIGHTS-