SOUTH BURLINGTON Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team fell to the University of Massachusetts at Boston, 2-1, on Saturday in Cairns Arena. Now 2-12 overall and 1-7 in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East, the Purple Knights lost a one-goal affair against a squad tied for second in the league for the second time in less than 24 hours. The Beacons are now 8-4-4 and 5-1-2.

Saint Michael's limited UMass Boston, which was among the top 10 in Division II/III in scoring average (3.4) after netting 12 on Friday evening, to 27 shots, including just 13 after the opening stanza. Sophomore Carolyn Avery (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) tallied, and classmate Tina Frasca (Norwood, Mass./Tabor Academy) stopped 25 shots.

Junior Samantha Fallon (Pembroke, Mass./Williston Northampton) and sophomore Kristen Embrey (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) both scored for the Beacons, and senior Kailyn Burke (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) made eight saves.

Despite being outshot 14-3 during the opening period, Saint Michael's had the first golden scoring opportunity. Midway through, sophomore Sarah Bagley (Concord, Mass./Concord-Carlisle) took a feed at the top of the crease and fired the Purple Knights' first shot of the day from her backhand from point-blank range, but Burke turned it aside with her blocker. Embrey cracked the scoring column with 11 seconds remaining, taking senior Alyssa Sullivan's (Medford, Mass./Arlington Catholic) behind-the-net pass and slipping the puck under Frasca's right arm before it trickled just across the goal line.

UMass Boston held a narrow 6-4 edge in shots in the second frame, with both squads tallying. Fallon netted the eventual winner with 10:15 gone, picking up a loose puck off the left boards, taking two strides toward the net and sending the puck off the far right post and in. During a power play later in the period, the Purple Knights countered. First-year Jillian Witwicki (Danvers, Mass./Pingree School) carried into the zone under pressure and dropped a pass for Avery, who picked the upper right corner of the net from the slot. Sophomore defender Lauren Sullivan (Wakefield, Mass./Middlesex Islanders) also assisted.

Saint Michael's fired off only two shots in the final 20 minutes while looking for the equalizer, both off the stick of senior Fernanda Saavedra (Miami, Fla./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite). With Frasca pulled for the final 1:02, the hosts were unable to fire off a game-tying attempt.

The Purple Knights break until heading to No. 3 Norwich University next Friday for a 6 p.m. contest. The Cadets, who advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament title game four of the last five years, are ranked third in both national polls. Norwich was the national runner up in 2013-14.