SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team skated to a 1-1 tie against Plymouth State University in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East action for the second time this season on Friday evening at Cairns Arena. The Purple Knights move to 1-14-3 overall and 0-9-2 in the league, while the Panthers stand at 3-14-2 and 1-8-2.

Sophomore Amanda Kempainen (Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers U19) scored the Saint Michael's goal, while senior Macey Thomas (Amherst, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon) and junior Fernanda Saavedra (Miami, Fla./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) provided the assists. First-year goalie Abby Burke (Bedford, Mass./Assabet Valley Patriots) made 30 saves in the draw for her fourth 30-save game of the season.

Plymouth State senior Kelsey Maguire (Swampscott, Mass./Middlesex Islanders) tallied the Panthers' marker, with help from classmates Jane Baruch (Coventry, R.I./Edgewood Lady Hawks) and Meghan Cassidy (Somerville, N.J./New Jersey Select). Senior goalie Ali Ponte (Richmond Hill, Ontario/Stouffville Jr. Stars) stopped 21 shots.

The Purple Knights struck early when Kempainen knocked home a shot off a rebound just 19 seconds into the game. From low in the offensive zone corner, Saavedra threw the puck on net and Ponte made the initial stop, but could not find the loose puck in the crease. Kempainen was there to bury the shot from atop the crease for her fifth goal this season.

Plymouth State evened up the score when Maguire was the beneficiary of a rebound off Burke's blocker at 5:52 of the second period. Then at 9:33, Kempainen rang a shot off the crossbar bidding for her second score of the night. The Panthers held a 17-12 shot advantage through two periods, but the game went 1-1 into the final stanza.

The third period was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams bidding for the lead with opportune scoring chances. With 2:28 left to play, Purple Knight first-year Erin Dwyer (Weymouth, Mass./Charles River) skated in on a breakaway, but her shot went right into Ponte's chest. Plymouth State gave one more offensive charge and Baruch got off a blue-line shot that Burke turned away with three seconds left in regulation to force extra time.

The Panthers controlled much of the overtime period, outshooting the Purple Knights, 3-1. Nearly two minutes into the session, a Plymouth State player made a pass from behind the net to a teammate open on the left post and, with Burke still turned around, rang a back-handed shot off the post while facing an open net. Plymouth State managed to keep the puck in its zone during the final 40 seconds, including when sophomore Kelsey Lynch (Collegeville, Pa./Salve Regina) sent a shot that Burke swatted away with the blocker. Saint Michael's then went a player down off a penalty with six seconds left, but Plymouth State failed to get a shot on net at the end.

The Purple Knights host the University of Southern Maine on Saturday at 1 p.m.

by Student Intern Eric Gissendanner