Panthers host Castleton Saturday in final home game 

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – New England College scored two first-period goals and sophomore goaltender Kristen Connors made 11 saves Friday evening as the Pilgrims skated past Plymouth State University, 3-0, in an ECAC Women's East conference ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink.

            NEC won its second straight game by shutout and extended its unbeaten streak to four games (2-0-2).  The Pilgrims are now 10-6-5 overall and in fifth place in the ECAC East with a 9-3-3 mark.  PSU falls to 0-20-1 and 0-15-1.

            Connors posted her first shutout of the season and the second of her career, both coming against Plymouth State.  She made seven stops in the first period as PSU had a 7-6 advantage in shots, but needed to make only four stops in the middle stanza and none in the third period.

            Freshman Agnes Fotino capitalized on a Panther turnover with a shorthanded goal at 7:13 of the opening frame to open the scoring for NEC, going in alone and snapping a wrist shot just under the cross bar for her first career goal and the eventual game-winner. Freshman Kristen Dehm followed with her seventh of the season two minutes later, putting in the rebound of a shot by senior Rachel White.

            Freshman Kassandra Flint extended the margin to three goals midway through the middle frame, collecting a pass from junior Chelsea Torrico in the slot and firing the puck in off the goalie's stick.

            That ended up as all of the offense as neither team was able to put any goals on the board the rest of the way.  NEC out-shot the home team 12-0 in the third period and 26-11 for the game.

            PSU freshman Ali Ponte (Richmond Hill, Ont.) was solid in the Panther goal, making 23 saves.

            Plymouth State plays its final home game of the season Saturday, hosting Castleton State College in a 3:00 p.m. conference match-up.  NEC visits the University of Southern Maine Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. ECAC East affair. 

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