PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Graduate student JR Barone (West Chester, Pa.) notched his first career hat trick twice, and senior Mike McPherson (Somerville, Mass.) had three points as Plymouth State University held off Fitchburg State University, 5-4, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Monday afternoon.
 
After trading early goals in the opening period, the action and intensity picked up in a high-flying middle period that saw four goals, including three power play tallies, and nine penalties for 31 minutes. Barone potted a pair of his goals in the frame and graduate student Peter Laviolette (Longboat Key, Fla.) gave the hosts a 4-2 lead in the final minute.
 
PSU extended the advantage 7:20 into the third period on a goal that was originally taken off the board, but ultimately counted after the referees determined the puck had crossed the goal line prior to the net being dislodged. Fitchburg State rallied back to cut the margin to one and kept steady pressure on the defense over the final minute, but the Panthers were able to hold on for the win.
 
Plymouth State improves to 5-1-1 (3-0-1 MASCAC), while the Falcons suffer their first loss of the season to fall to 4-1-0 (3-1-0 MASCAC).
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 5, Fitchburg State 4
  • Plymouth State (5-1-1, 3-0-1 MASCAC)
  • Fitchburg State (4-1-0, 3-1-0 MASCAC)

How it Happened:

• Plymouth State took advantage of an early power play chance as McPherson snapped a low angle shot from the nearside off a feed from sophomore Colin Tracy (Bow, N.H.) that was tipped past the Fitchburg goaltender by junior Marcus Seidl (Stockholm, Sweden) just 2:44 into play.
• The Falcons came right back to tie the game just 1:26 later when junior Hunter Fortin collected a loose puck in the defensive zone, skated the length of the ice and made a move around a defender before slipping a backhanded shot into the net.
• Plymouth State went back in front 3:34 into the second when McPherson stole a puck in the neutral zone and skated in on a 2-on-1 before feeding Barone all alone for the one-timer goal.
• Barone potted his second of the period at the 13:08 mark. With the Panthers on another power play, senior Colin Stevens (Concord, N.H.) made a cross-ice pass to Barone, who settled the puck before whipping it past the Fitchburg goalie to the stick side.
• The Falcons cashed in on a power play of their own with 2:08 left in the period when freshman Toivo Kramer's shot from the slot went five-hole, but the Panthers came right back to convert another man-advantage opportunity when Laviolette tipped in a shot from the blue line by senior Simon Besner (North Lancaster, Ontario) with 56 seconds left.
• Junior Myles Abbate (Norwell, Mass.) fired a shot off the shoulder of the Fitchburg goalie and the puck floated straight up before Barone reached over to bat the puck in as the net was dislodged. After a lengthy discussion the goal was allowed to give the Panthers a 5-2 advantage.
• Fitchburg battled back, though, scoring another power play goal midway through the period before making it a one-score game with just 4:41 to play.
• The Falcons pulled the goalie and pressured the zone, but sophomore Kalle Andersson (Taby, Sweden) made five saves in the final minute to preserve the win.

By the Numbers:

• Barone's hat trick was the first of his career. He has six points over the last five games.
• McPherson posted his first multi-point game of the year with three helpers.
• Besner also finished with two assists.
• Plymouth State held a 47-28 advantage in shots.
• Both power play units had strong games. PSU finished 3-of-5, while the Falcons went 2-of-3.
• The Panthers dominated the faceoff circle, winning 61-of-82. McPherson went 20-5 on the draw.
• The two teams have played a number of tight contests in recent history. Of the last seven meetings, six were decided by a single goal or ended in a tie, while four went to overtime.

 
Up Next:

• Plymouth State returns from the Thanksgiving recess to host Framingham State University on Dec. 2. Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m.