Nelson Nets Game-Tying Goal with 1:21 to Play in Regulation

            SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt.  -- Sophomore Julianne Nelson (Armstrong, B.C.) scored an unassisted goal with 1:21 remaining in regulation to give the visiting University of Southern Maine Huskies a 2-2 overtime tie with the Saint Michael's College Purple Knights in non-conference women's college ice hockey action Tuesday evening at Cairns Arena.

            With the teams skating three aside, Nelson forced a turnover at the USM blue line and went in alone on SMC senior goalie Vika Simons (Essex Junction, Vt.) .  Nelson's shot found the top right corner for her fourth goal of the season.

            The tie leaves the Huskies with a 5-8-1 overall mark.  The Purple Knights are 3-11-2 overall.  The two teams will meet again Wednesday afternoon (2:30 p.m.).

            After 35 scoreless minutes, the Purple Knights took a 1-0 lead as the teams were skating five aside.  Junior Maddie Gervais (Glastonbury, Conn.) took a pass up along the left-wing board in the center zone, carried into the offensive zone and beat USM senior goalie Whitney Padgett (Eden Prairie, Minn.) to the upper right corner.

            The Huskies took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play in the middle stages of the third period to tie the game at 1-1.  Senior Katie Nolan (Dorchester, Mass.) fired home the rebound of a shot from junior Shannon Colbert (Manomet, Mass.) at 8:08 for her third goal of the season.  Senior Mikayla Butkus (Essex Junction, Vt.) picked up the second assist.

            Just over a minute after Nolan tied the game, the Huskies were whistled for a major penalty.  The Purple Knights regained the lead at 12:55 as junior Courtney Kelly (Arlington, Mass.) scored a power-play marker, stuffing home the rebound of a shot by classmate Riley Nichols (Gilford, N.H.).

            Seconds after the Huskies' major penalty expired, the teams combined for seven minor penalties in the final 5:45 of regulation.  St. Michael's enjoyed a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:34, but were unable to get the puck past Padgett.  Shortly thereafter, the Huskies enjoyed a 4-on-3 advantage for 37 seconds before taking a penalty, setting the stage of Nelson's game-tying marker.

            Saint Michael's finished the game with a 37-33 edge in shots on goal.  Padgett stopped 35 shots while Simons made 31 saves. 

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