MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State Women's Ice Hockey team battled back and forth with the host Vikings on Saturday afternoon, as both teams were forced to settle for a 4-4 draw.
Morrisville started out the second game of their Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) series the same way they have started most games all year, outshooting their opponents in the opening period. Despite the pressure and the 10-3 shot advantage, the Mustangs were able to find the back of the net.
The Mustangs' dry spell would end in the second period, however when the visitors were able to take advantage of the remaining seconds of a Salem State hooking penalty. Shanley Austin (Rochester, N.Y.) delivered the power play goal at 2:27 to put Morrisville up 1-0. Jessica Ujcik (Munich, Germany) delivered the assist.
As the Mustangs' dry spell ended, so did the Vikings. Two even-handed goals in the middle of the second period, the first at 8:29 and the second at 11:26 put Salem State up 2-1 on their home ice.
Skating from behind for the first time in their young season, Morrisville rebounded quickly, rattling off two goals within thirty eight seconds of each other just after fifteen minutes of play in the second. Kylie Cameron (Burlington, Ont.) picked up the equalizer on a power play goal assisted by Ciara Lark (Mildmay, Ont.). Within the minute, Alexziz Giannamore (Pittsburgh, Pa.) received assists from Austin and Claire Newman (Burlington, Ont.) to put the Mustangs back on top.
The score would remain 3-2 in favor of Morrisville until 7:17 into the third. Maddison Devlin (Campbell River, B.C.) capitalized on another Vikings' penalty, giving the Mustangs a 4-2 cushion.
The Vikings fought back though, pulling within one as they began to take advantage of extra skater opportunities due to costly Morrisville penalties. At 12:12, Kylie Currier picked up an unassisted tally for Salem State, while Vanessa VanBuskirk capitalized for the home squad with forty four seconds remaining in the third to force overtime.
Just as the flood gates of scoring opened for the final forty minutes of regulation for both teams, they shut quickly as neither team was able to find the back of the net resulting the first draws of the season for both squads.
Morrisville will take their annual mid-season break from conference competition, as they turn their attention to a string of eleven non-conference contests from now until mid-January. The first of which takes place next weekend in a split series with the Bears from SUNY Potsdam. The two teams open play in Potsdam on Friday, November 17 at 3 PM, before traveling to Morrisville for a 1 PM start on Saturday, November 18.
Morrisville State College's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2018 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2018 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about Morrisville State College, visit www.morrisville.edu.
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