SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team dropped a 4-1 decision to New England College in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East play to open its season on Friday at Cairns Arena. With the loss, the Purple Knights fall to 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the league, while the Pilgrims improve to 2-0-1 and 1-0.

Junior Mary Liz Pinnella (Manasquan, N.J./New Jersey Lady Patriots) netted an unassisted goal for Saint Michael's, while senior Erin Stevens (Watertown, Conn./Connecticut Polar Bears) stopped 40 shots.

Sophomore Aubrey Fischer (Syracuse, N.Y./Ontario Hockey Academy) tallied a pair of goals for New England College, and senior Kate Kellar (Cheshire, Mass./Troy-Albany Ice Cats) and first-year Lindsey Stewart (South Windsor, Conn./Canterbury Jersey) also provided goals. Sophomore Ashley Bonner (Ridgefield, Conn./Canterbury School) had two assists, while classmate Lauren Hopps (Green Bay, Wis./Madison Capitals) made 30 saves.

The Pilgrims connected for the game's first goal, as Stewart found the back of the net 14:31 into the first period on an assist from first-year Kellie McLean (Hingham, Mass./Thayer Academy). Fischer scored less than three minutes later, at 17:25, on a pass from Bonner to make it 2-0.

The Purple Knights cut into the Pilgrim lead when Pinnella scored on a breakaway 6:33 into the second period. New England College regained a two-goal advantage later in the period when Fischer tallied her second marker of the game at 17:21. Kellar added a power-play goal for the Pilgrims 3:12 into the third frame to put her team ahead 4-1.

Saint Michael's is back on the ice on Saturday when it hosts Castleton State College at 3 p.m.