For three years, Alyssa Peterson was one of the best backup goaltenders in all of women's collegiate hockey.

It only seemed fitting the 2016 Seneca Valley graduate would turn into one of the best starters.

Peterson led Division III Endicott College (Mass.) to a program-best 25-2 record this season and No. 7 national ranking. The Gulls had never been ranked higher in the program's five-year history.

“Your team is as successful as your goalie,” Endicott coach Andrew McPhee said. “And Alyssa was lights out for us.”

Peterson was 17-2 this season, upping her career record at Endicott to a gaudy 35-4-1. As a three-year backup to Vendela Jonsson of Linkoping, Sweden, she was 18-2-1 with nine shutouts.

This season, Peterson ranked third in all of Division III with a .957 save percentage, third with seven shutouts, fourth with an .895 winning percentage and seventh with a 1.12 goals-against average.

The 5-foot-6 Cranberry Township resident was a netminder for the Seneca Valley High School boys team and the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite girls team. She has been a goalie since she was 5 years old.

“My older brother (Jacob) played hockey. He'd take me out to the driveway with him when he wanted to practice,” Peterson said. “He put a bunch of stuff on me and had me stand in front of the net.

“I've been playing goalie ever since.”

When it came time to look for a college, Peterson figured she'd have to leave the area.

“There wasn't many opportunities for college women's hockey around Pittsburgh,” she said. “When I'd be playing in tournaments, the scouts were mostly from the New York and Boston areas.

“Endicott is a beautiful campus, right on the water, near the city (30 minutes north of Boston). It's been nice up there.”

Peterson joined the team in only its second year of existence. Jonsson started for the Gulls her freshman year, the team's debut season.

“I knew Vendela was established and I'd have to work my way in,” Peterson said.

That required an adjustment, one that Peterson made well, according to her coach.

“Alyssa was a great teammate,” McPhee said. “She is one of the best teammates I have ever coached. She waited patiently for her shot, and when it came, she excelled.”

Peterson was named the Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) Goaltender of the Year and was a women's hockey All-American this season.

And instead of becoming competitive rivals, Peterson and Jonsson became good friends.

“They supported each other. They learned from each other,” McPhee said.

Endicott did not have a goaltending coach, “so we coached each other,” Peterson said. “We bounced suggestions off each other and always talked goaltending.”

Jonsson studied for her masters degree this year and stayed with the hockey team as a volunteer coach, “so I was able to learn from her that way,” Peterson said.

Jonsson was 51-19-10 in her career at Endicott. She and Peterson rank 1-2 in career wins in the program's brief history.

Peterson is graduating with a degree in exercise science. She led the team to its second consecutive CHC championship this year.

She helped the team win its first conference title last year.

“Vendela was off her game a little bit, so we played Alyssa for a few games in a row,” McPhee recalled. “Alyssa had the hot hand and we rode with it.

“Vendela got her game straightened out and went on to lead us to the title. But Alyssa played a big role there.”

Peterson isn't through playing hockey just yet.

“I'm planning on going to graduate school,” she said. “I'll play in rec leagues and adult leagues when I get the chance. I still enjoy the game.

“And I really loved this season.”

The only thing the Gulls missed out on this year was a chance to play for the national championship. The Division III women's tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think we stood a shot at winning it and that's the one disappointment this season,” Peterson said. “But we seniors ended our careers by winning our last game.

“That's what we all envisioned.”