MIDDLETON, R.I. -- Sophomore Erin Banfield (Montpelier, Vt.) scored with 3:34 to play in regulation to give the University of Southern Maine Huskies a 2-2 overtime tie against the Salve Regina University Seahawks in an ECAC Women's East game Friday night at the St. George's Ice Rink.

            The Huskies, 2-2-2 in their last six games, are now 5-9-4 overall and 5-4-2 in league play.  The Seahawks extended their unbeaten string to four games (2-0-2) with the tie, and are 8-5-5 overall and 4-4-3 in ECAC games.  The Huskies remain a point ahead of the Seahawks in the standings with both teams in the hunt for a home ice berth in the playoffs.

            Down 2-1 after Salve Regina went ahead on a power-play goal by rookie Sarah Markey (Ashland, Mass.) at 10:54 of the third period, USM battled back to forge its fourth tie of the season.  Banfield converted a set up from seniors Jana Sacco (Niagara Falls, Ontario) and Joanna Gaube (Woodstock, Conn.) into her third goal of the season.

            Salve Regina held a 13-6 edge in shots in the third period, and a 4-1 advantage in the overtime, but could not slip the puck past USM freshman goaltender Liz Bergstrom (Chanhassen, Minn.).  Bergstrom finished the game stopping 30 of 32 shots to run her record to 5-5-4.

            The Seahawks grabbed a 1-0 lead in the opening period on a power-play goal by junior Sarah McCusker (Havertown, Pa.).  Freshman Taylor Shepard (Quincy, Mass.) and junior Rachel Porter (Franklin, Mass.) collected the assists in McCusker's third goal of the campaign.

            Junior Kailey Bubier (Auburn, Maine) got the Huskies even with the lone goal of the middle period, netting a short-handed tally at 5:44 off an assist from senior Christen Hart (Saugus, Mass.).  The goal was Bubier's fourth of the season.

            Markey restored the Seahawks' lead with their second extra skater goal of the night set up by Porter.  The Seahawks were 2 for 5 with the extra skater.

            Salve Regina junior goalie Ali Muehlbronner (Glenside, Pa.) registered 24 saves to run her record to 3-1-2.

            Southern Maine travels to Holy Cross on Saturday (2:00 p.m.) for another ECAC Women's East game.  Salve Regina hosts Plymouth State University on Saturday (7:00 p.m.).

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