SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team came from behind twice, bringing Plymouth State University into overtime to tie 2-2 on Saturday at Cairns Arena in an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East contest. The Purple Knights now stand 0-3-1 overall and 0-3-1 in league play, while the Panthers are 0-1-1 and 0-1-1.

For the Purple Knights, senior Madelena Santore (Millington, N.J./New Jersey Rockets) and freshman Kristen Spulecki (Orchard Park, N.J./Buffalo Bison) both tallied a goal and an assist while junior goaltender Erin Stevens (Watertown, Conn./Connecticut Polar Bears) made 36 stops.

For the Panthers, freshman Kelsey Cosby (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) netted a goal and an assist while sophomore Ali Myers (Seattle, Wash./Washington Wild) also scored. Sophomore goalie Ali Ponte (Richmond Hill, Ontario/Richmond Hill/Stouffville Jr. Stars) made 39 saves.      

The first period remained scoreless with the Purple Knights outshooting the Panthers 12-9. Saint Michael's had a chance to take the lead just over three minutes into the contest with sophomore Maire Bartkus (Acton, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon) sending a shot toward goal that was saved while classmate Courtney Burnett (Deep River, Ontario/Northwood School) picked up the rebound and sent it just high of the net.

Saint Michael's nearly tallied with just over 10 minutes left in the second period with Santore collecting a pass and rushing the goaltender in a one-on-one, sending a shot just left of the goal. The Panthers broke onto the board with 7:12 remaining in the second period, when Cosby sent a shot toward the net that was deflected into the goal off a Saint Michael's player. Spulecki tied the game for Saint Michael's with just 1:10 remaining when she converted off a rebound on Ponte, who was out of position after stopping the initial shot.

The Panthers took a 2-1 lead 5:13 into the third period when Myers converted on a rebound after Stevens stepped out to make the initial block. Just 3:24 later, Santore knotted the game at 2-2 when she converted on a power play with a low, hard shot into the back of the net. Bartkus and Spulecki assisted. The score remained into overtime, where the Purple Knights killed a penalty and fended off a 4-2 Plymouth State edge in shots.

The Purple Knights hit the road for the first of four straight away games on Friday at Saint Anselm College for a 7 p.m. start.