(Game
Box)
WATERVILLE VALLEY, N.H. - Senior defenseman Amanda
Kreamer (Lynn, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal 1:39
into overtime Saturday afternoon, giving the Plymouth State
University women's ice hockey team a thrilling 5-4 victory over
Nichols College in ECAC East action at Waterville Valley Arena.
Kreamer
(right), who celebrated Senior Day with teammate
Lindsay DeLorie (Holliston, Mass.) before the
game, intercepted a clearing pass at the point in overtime, and her
shot snuck inside the left goal post for the dramatic
game-winner. It was the first win in Plymouth State's
three-year history as a varsity program (1-52-1), and the first
victory for Panther head coach Heather Hoffay.
DeLorie earned
the triumph in the Panther goal with 47 saves, including 25 in the
third period when Nichols outshot the home team, 27-2.
The outcome
avoided a near-heartbreaking result for the Panthers. PSU had
a 4-1 lead in the second period and a 4-3 advantage in the closing
seconds of the third period before a Bison goal with less than two
seconds on the clock in regulation play forced overtime.
The teams
traded first-period goals, with junior Candice Ellis (Gloucester,
Mass.) scoring her second of the season for Nichols and freshman
Molly Irving (Marlboro, Mass.) tallying the first
of her career for PSU. The Panthers pulled ahead with three
unanswered goals in the second period, two by freshman
Molly Blaine (Concord, N.H.), her second and third
of the season, and a power play marker by defenseman Abby
VanWormer (Marstons Mills, Mass.), the first of her
career.
Nichols started
its comeback with a power play goal by freshman Haylie Carter
(Forney, Texas) in the final minute of the second period. Carter
came right back with her second of the game and third of the season
at 7:06 of the third period to pull the Bison to within one goal.
The Panthers
appeared headed for victory until Nichols freshman Mandy Manopla
(Wellington, Fla.) stunned the home team, knocking home a rebound
with 1.7 seconds on the clock for force the extra session, where
Kreamer won it for the Panthers.
Nichols
finished with a 51-22 advantage in shots on goal, but DeLorie
(left) was the difference in the Panther goal.
PSU wraps up
the season next weekend with a pair of conference road games,
visiting Holy Cross on Friday and Salve Regina on Saturday.
Nichols concludes its season next weekend with a trip to Vermont to
face Saint Michael's on Friday and Castleton on Saturday.
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