MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – For the second time this season, the Salve Regina University women's ice hockey team received goals from five different players, as they defeated visiting Sacred Heart University by a score of 5-2 at St. George's Ice Rink on Tuesday night. For the Seahawks, it was just the second win in 11 all-time meetings versus the Pioneers, improving their overall record to 7-5-2 on the season, while dropping Sacred Heart to 9-13-1 on the year.
 
The Seahawks controlled the action in the early going and finally broke through for the game's first goal at the 10:18 mark when junior Samantha Zitzer (River Forest, Ill.) knocked home a rebound off a shot from freshman Michaela Chiuccariello (Winchester, Mass.) to put Salve Regina ahead, 1-0.
 
The Pioneers tied the game less than five minutes later, as senior Jamie Mey (Middletown, R.I.) scored on a breakaway at 14:55.
 
Behind the strong play of junior Rachel Porter (Franklin, Mass.), Salve Regina took control of the game in the second period with a pair of goals. Porter gave the Seahawks the lead with a short-handed goal at the 6:28 mark, before weaving her way through the SHU defense to set up senior Shannon Ellis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
 
The Pioneers did not go away quietly, however, as freshman Alanna Woodford (Scituate, Mass.) scored at the 11:12 mark of the third period to pull Sacred Heart back within a single goal at 3-2.
 
The Seahawks responded with just over four minutes remaining in the period when sophomore Shannon Coleman (Chicago, Ill.) followed up a shot by Chiuccariello and slipped the puck past the Sacred Heart goaltender to give Salve Regina a 4-2 advantage.
 
The Pioneers pulled their goalie with just under two minutes remaining in the period, opening the door for an empty net goal by freshman Taylor Shepherd (Quincy, Mass.) to ice the 5-2 win.
 
Porter led the way for the Seahawks, compiling two points on both a goal and an assist, while Chiuccariello added a pair of helpers in the win. Ellis, Shepherd, Coleman, and Zitzer each had goals on the night, while freshman Sarah Markey (Ashland, Mass.) chipped-in with an assist. Junior goaltender Ali Muehlbronner (Glenside, Pa.) stopped 29-of-30 shots in net for the Seahawks, improving to 3-1-0 on the season.
 
Woodford and Mey both scored goals for the Pioneers, while freshman Briana Connolly (Duxbury, Mass.) and junior Maura Leahy (Ashburnham, Mass.) both dished-out one assist each. Sophomore goaltender Alexius Schutt (Elk River, Minn.) made a game-high 32 saves in between the pipes for Sacred Heart, falling to 8-10-1 on the year.
 
Both teams will return to the ice on Friday, with the Pioneers hosting Lindenwood at 7 p.m. and the Seahawks hitting the road to face off against New England College at 4 p.m.