EAST BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Chantelle Ross (Ottawa, Ontario) potted a pair of goals, but Suffolk University scored two unanswered markers to get past Plymouth State University, 5-2, in the women's ice hockey season opener at Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink on Friday night.
 
The Rams built a 2-0 lead in the first behind a pair of power play strikes, but Ross cut the margin in half with her first of the season in the final minute of the period. Suffolk relied on special teams again, using a short-handed goal to go up 3-1 early in the second stanza, but Ross struck again midway through the frame to make it a one-goal deficit. The hosts pushed the lead to 4-2 with 32 seconds left in the second, then added an insurance tally in the third to secure the win.
 
Plymouth State falls to 0-1, while the Rams move to 1-0.
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 2, Suffolk 5
  • Plymouth State (0-1)
  • Suffolk (1-0)

Top Performers:

• Chantelle Ross (2 goals, 6 shots)
• Olivia Petito (31 saves)
• Robyn Grant (1 asst, 2 shots)

How it Happened:

• Suffolk came out aggressive firing a number of shots early on before capitalizing on a woman-advantage opportunity at the 8:36 mark.
• The hosts doubled the lead six minutes later on a short power play to make it 2-0.
• Junior Olivia Petito (Jacksonville, Fla.) and the PSU defense successfully killed a penalty, and the Panthers rode the momentum to cut the margin in half when Ross converted a feed from senior Georgia McLellan (Kamloops, British Columbia) and junior Taylor Thomas (Prior Lake, Minn.) with just 22 seconds left in the period.
• The Rams pushed the lead to 3-1 after tapping in a rebound of a shot that hit the pipe early in the second period, but Ross pulled the Panthers back to within one, 3-2, with her second of the night at 12:36.
• Suffolk scored in the final minute of the period, then added an insurance tally early in the third period and Plymouth State was unable to get any closer.

By the Numbers:

• It was the first multi-goal game of Ross' career.
• Petito finished with 31 saves, her most since a 32-save effort in the quarterfinals of the 2019-20 NEHC Tournament.
• PSU went 1-for-7 on the power play, while Suffolk converted 2-of-4 opportunities.
• Junior Addie Swanson (Eagle River, Alaska) and sophomore Robyn Grant (Airdrie, Alberta) also recorded assists for the Panthers.

Up Next:

• Plymouth State hosts Salve Regina in the home opener Saturday (Oct. 30) at 2:00 p.m.