PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Wesleyan University rallied with two goals late in the third period to shock Plymouth State University, 3-2, in a non-conference men's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Friday night.
 
The teams traded first period tallies and junior Ted Austin (Sylvania, Ohio) put the hosts ahead with a power play strike late in the middle stanza. Plymouth State looked as though it would hold onto the lead, but the Cardinals rallied to tie the game with 2:56 remaining, then snuck the game-winning goal just inside the left post 56 seconds later and the Panthers were unable to pull even with the extra skater.
 
In the team's annual Teddy Bear Toss game, freshman Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) whipped a wrist shot to the top right corner midway through the first period to bring hundreds of bears onto the ice. The bears will be donated to the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD) to benefit families in need during the holiday season.
 
Plymouth State's eight-game unbeaten streak comes to an end as the Panthers move to 8-2-1. Wesleyan improves to 4-3-1.
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 2, Wesleyan 3
  • Plymouth State (8-2-1)
  • Wesleyan (4-3-1)

How it Happened:

• PSU had an early chance when graduate student JR Barone (West Chester, Pa.) collected a long pass through the neutral zone during a Wesleyan change, leading to a breakout but his slap shot was saved.
• The Cardinals took the lead at 5:07 when a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle went through traffic and found the top right corner.
• Plymouth State came right back to tie the game six minutes later when Stuckless buried a one-timer in the slot off a feed from behind the goal line by sophomore Anton Nasstrom (Ornskoldsvik, Sweden).
• Wesleyan put on heavy pressure during a power play midway through the second period, but sophomore Kalle Andersson (Taby, Sweden) made several remarkable saves with loads of traffic in the crease to preserve the tie.
• The Panthers went up at 15:48 of the second when Austin whipped a shot from the right circle that deflected off a Wesleyan defenseman's foot and into the net.
• The Cardinals tied the game with 2:56 remaining on a shot that snuck just inside the left post, then pulled ahead just 56 seconds later when a shot from the point found the back of the net.

By the Numbers:

• Wesleyan held a 27-26 advantage in shots.
• The Panthers went 1-of-4 on the power play, while holding the Cardinals scoreless in five chances.
• Andersson finished with 24 saves in the losing effort.
• Plymouth State controlled the faceoff circle, winning 36-of-55 draws.
• Stuckless finished with a goal and an assist for the Panthers to record his first multi-point game.
• Austin's goal was his first of the season.
• With his assist, junior Niks Krollis (Riga, Latvia) now has at least one point in each of his last five games.
• Nasstrom and sophomore Colin Tracy (Bow, N.H.) also had assists.

 
Up Next:

• Plymouth State wraps up the fall semester with a trip to New England College tomorrow (Dec. 11) for a 4:00 p.m. clash with the Pilgrims.