HENNIKER, N.H. - The Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team dropped a 5-1 decision against New England College in an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East tilt on Saturday at Lee Clement Arena. Following the loss, the Purple Knights slip to 1-16-1 overall and 1-13 in conference play, while the Pilgrims improve to 6-7-5 and 3-6-3.

First-year Amanda Kempainen (Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers U19) scored her first career goal for Saint Michael's, while senior Erin Stevens (Watertown, Conn./Connecticut Polar Bears) turned away 39 shots.

Sophomore Avery Kauffmann (Castle Rock, Colo./Colorado Selects) tallied a goal and two assists for New England College, while senior Sam Hippern (Dover, N.H./Saint Thomas Aquinas) and first-year Kellie McLean (Hingham, Mass./Thayer Academy) each finished with a goal and an assist. Senior Alyssa Hoot (Waterville, Ohio/Honeybaked) and sophomore Ashley Bonner (Ridgefield, Conn./Canterbury School) also scored, and sophomore Lauren Hopps (Green Bay, Wis./Madison Capitals) made 17 saves.

Kauffmann put the Pilgrims ahead with a marker that came with 5:32 left in the opening period. Kempainen tallied for the Purple Knights with just four ticks remaining in the first frame to knot the score at 1-1. McLean found the back of the net for the visitors 3:43 into the second period before Hippern and Hoot added goals 26 seconds apart, at 7:27 and 7:53, respectively, to put New England College up 4-1 after two. Bonner netted the game's final goal during a power-play situation with 5:59 to play in the third frame.

Saint Michael's is back on the ice on Friday when it returns home to face Plymouth State University at 4 p.m. in the first of a six-game homestand to close out the regular season.