CANTON, N.Y. - Senior Fernanda Saavedra (Miami, Fla./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) and sophomore Erin Dwyer (Weymouth, Mass./Charles River) both posted three points, and the Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team returned from a 12-day lay-off with a 4-1 victory at the State University of New York at Canton on Friday in the Roos House rink. The Purple Knights, who last played on Nov. 22, are 2-6 following the non-conference affair, while the Kangaroos fell to 1-8-1. It was the teams' first meeting.

Saint Michael's, whose last three games had been decided by one goal apiece, had Dwyer and Saavedra both turn in one goal and two assists. Despite being a defenseman for her first two-plus seasons, Saavedra moved into ninth in school history with 23 career assists, and she added eight face-off wins. Junior Kaly Spilhaus (Bourne, Mass./Groton School) won seven draws. Junior Amanda Kempainen (Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers U19) and first-year Jillian Witwicki (Danvers, Mass./Pingree School) both scored, with Witwicki potting the first goal of her career. Sophomore Abby Burke (Bedford, Mass./The Rivers School) made a season-high 33 stops for the eighth 30-save outing of her 15-game career.

Junior Robyn Carroll (Bowmanville, Ontario/Saint Stephens Secondary) scored for SUNY Canton, and sophomore Becca Kieffer (Lee Center, N.Y./Lynsander Lightning) made 22 stops in 53:41.

Saint Michael's held a 12-6 advantage in shots during a scoreless opening stanza, as both teams killed a pair of power plays, before being outshot in the final two periods. The visitors were outshot 16-7 in the second period and killed off an early power play thanks to four Burke saves and a pair of blocked shots by Dwyer. Just 3:16 after the penalty expired, Dwyer found the back of the net, converting Saavedra's pass after 6:32 had elapsed. Burke made five more saves with her team a woman down for 3:58 later in the stanza to keep it 1-0.

In a third period that saw Saint Michael's take just eight shots, the Purple and Gold scored three times, including Kempainen putting home the game-winner after just 39 seconds. Saavedra provided her second helper on the play. At 12:54, Witwicki posted a power-play goal, as sophomore Carolyn Avery (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) chipped in the assist during her first game following the end of her field hockey season. Saavedra created a 4-0 margin just 56 seconds later, with Dwyer and senior Maire Bartkus (Acton, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon) assisting. Carroll got the Kangaroos on the board at 14:11, capping a stretch of three goals in 1:17, but Saint Michael's allowed only one shot on goal during a late SUNY Canton power play to clinch the final score.

The Purple Knights return home tomorrow to take on Connecticut College at 4 p.m. in their final contest of the 2014 calendar year.