Cosby, Collins lead Panthers to ECAC East win

            SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Plymouth State University women's ice hockey team got back on the winning track Friday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over Saint Michael's College in Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Women's East action at Cairns Arena.

            Sophomore Kelsey Cosby (Walpole, Mass.) and junior Allison Collins (Murrieta, Calif.) scored goals for Plymouth State, while junior Carrie Baruch (Coventry, R.I.) picked up a pair of assists. Junior goaltender Ali Ponte (Richmond Hill, Ont.) recorded 29 stops.

            Junior Macey Thomas (Amherst, Mass.) scored for Saint Michael's, while senior Erin Stevens (Watertown, Conn.) made 22 saves between the pipes.

            After neither team was able to score in the opening period, Cosby put the Panthers on the board with a goal 1:12 into the second frame. The Purple Knights nearly found the back of the net twice near the period's 4:30 mark, when sophomore Kristen Spulecki (Orchard Park, N.Y.) was saved from close range before senior Madelena Santore's (Millington, N.J.) rebound attempt from point blank was blocked.

            Collins gave the visitors a 2-0 advantage with a tally that came with 8:16 remaining in the third period. Thomas scored with 2:33 remaining to cut the Plymouth State lead in half, but Ponte made four saves in the final minutes to deny Saint Michael's the equalizer.

            Both teams play ECAC East games again Saturday, with the Purple Knights (1-17-1, 1-14-0) hosting the University of Southern Maine and the Panthers (4-14-2, 3-8-2) visiting league-leading Norwich University. 

(Courtesy of Saint Michael's Sports Information) 

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