Box Score Northfield, Vt. – The women's ice hockey team started the season strong on Saturday by tying the #1 ranked Elmira Soaring Eagles, 2-2.  Goals by junior forwards Michele Meggiolaro (Whippany, N.J./New Jersey Colonials (MAWHA)) and Sydney Asselstine (Hartington, Ontario/Nepean Wildcats (PWHL)) helped the Valiants start the season strong.

As the Valiants took the ice to begin their season one thing became very clear, this young group of players are ready to make some noise.  Most critics had written off this match as being an easy win for the Soaring Eagles with the Valiants having such a young roster.  One thing they didn't count on was the play of returning upperclassmen.  Junior forward Sydney Asselstine (Hartington, Ontario/Nepean Wildcats (PWHL)) opened the scoring for the Valiants, as she scored just 23 seconds into the first power play of the season, off assists from both Meggiolaro and junior captain Rachael Morrison (Ridgefield, Conn./Sound Shore Warriors (MAWHL)).  The goal came with 3:47 remaining in the first period which is how the score stayed heading into the first intermission thanks to 12 saves made on the period by junior goaltender Kirsten Shaughnessy (Le Center, Minn./LeSueur-Henderson St. Peter). 

The teams continued to battle hard in the second period as back and forth play was the story.  Although there were only seven shots recorded in the period, three by Elmira and four by Manhattanville, the conditioning of both teams was tested.  The Valiants looked to be in midseason form as they battled fiercely with the Soaring Eagles and kept the score at 1-0 heading into the third period.

The third period started quickly as Meggiolaro scored just 27 seconds in off an assist from Asselstine, both registering their second points of the night.  The Valiants had a 2-0 lead and looked to be in control of their own destiny.  A power play goal by junior forward Cassidy Delainey at the 7:44 mark cut the deficit in half.  Less than one minute later Delainey scored again, this time at even-strength to tie the game.  The remainder of the game saw opportunities from both teams, but neither was able to find the back of the net. 

The overtime period saw was an intense battle with neither team able to separate itself from the other.  Shaughnessy earned the third star of the game nomination turning away 28 shots in total and all five that she saw in overtime.  Asselstine was awarded the second star of the game with a goal and an assist and Delainey was awarded the first star after her two-goal performance.   

The Valiants will look to continue their strong start against second-ranked Plattsburgh State on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.