PLYMOUTH, N.H. – ­­­Senior Olivia Petito (Jacksonville, Fla.) made 35 saves, but the University of Southern Maine scored three times in the second period to top Plymouth State University, 3-0, in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) women's hockey action at Hanaway Rink on Friday night.
 
Scoring chances were limited in opening period with both goaltenders playing well, but Southern Maine scored three times in an eight-minute span in the middle stanza and the Panthers were unable to recover.
 
Plymouth State falls to 3-3-1 (1-2-0 NEHC), while USM improves to 5-2-0 and 4-1-0 in conference play.
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 0, Southern Maine 3
  • Plymouth State (3-3-1, 1-2-0 NEHC)
  • Southern Maine (5-2-0, 4-1-0 NEHC)

How it Happened:

• Action went back-and-forth through the first period with the Huskies applying early zone pressure, but Petito was perfect between the pipes to keep the visitors off the board.
• Southern Maine erupted for three goals in the middle stanza. Freshman Jess MacLean (Red Point, Nova Scotia) snapped a wrist shot over Petito's shoulder at 4:51 and just under five minutes later the Huskies doubled the lead when junior Peyton Dukas (Fairfield, Vt.) one-timed a perfect cross-ice feed. The visitors added a power play tally at 13:37 to push the lead to 3-0.
• Plymouth State got strong zone pressure during a power play early in the third, but a blast from sophomore Isabella Borbridge (Calgary, Alberta) caught the pipe and classmate Carsen Moffett's (Kamloops, British Columbia) wrap-around attempt was covered up.
• The Panthers' best chance came with five minutes remaining when freshman Libby Carter (Franklin, Mass.) stole a pass in the neutral zone and skated in alone, but the USM goaltender made an incredible save to keep PSU off the board.

By the Numbers:

• Petito finished with 35 saves for the Panthers.
• Plymouth State blocked 11 shots.
• PSU was 0-4 on the power play, while the Huskies were 1-5.
• The two teams have been evenly matched over the last three seasons, going 3-3-1 in those meetings.

 
Up Next:

• Plymouth State is right back in NEHC action tomorrow (Nov. 20) with a 2:30 p.m. clash with Salem State University at Hanaway Rink.