PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Plymouth State University extended its program-record unbeaten streak to open a season to three games after skating to a scoreless tie against New England College in a women's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Friday evening.
 
Sophomore Chantelle Ross (Ottawa, Ontario) narrowly missed a game-winner early in overtime when she skated along the goal line before going to the backhand, but NEC junior goaltender Cianna Weir (Olds, Alberta) was able to get her pad on the ice to keep the game scoreless.
 
Plymouth State moves to 2-0-1, while the Pilgrims end the night with an 0-5-2 mark. The two teams will meet again in Henniker tomorrow afternoon.
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 0, New England College 0 (OT)
  • Plymouth State (2-0-1)
  • New England College (0-5-2)

Three Stars:

• Plymouth State
  • Chantelle Ross (7 shots, 1 blocked shot)
  • Olivia Petito (18 saves, shutout)
• New England College
  • Cianna Weir (68 saves, shutout)

How it Happened:

• PSU came out with strong zone time to start the opening period but was unable to capitalize. The Pilgrims settled in midway through the frame, but Plymouth State's defense didn't allow any real scoring opportunities.
• Late in the second period the Pilgrims had consecutive chances, first when a pass to the slot sat in the crease momentarily before being cleared away, and then moments later on a breakaway when junior goalie Olivia Petito (St. Augustine, Fla.) made a stick save on a close range shot.
• Plymouth State had multiple near misses in the third period. Ross made a nice move around a defender early in the period, but Weir was up to the challenge. Midway through the stanza sophomore Addie Swanson (Anchorage, Alaska) fed junior Kassidy Lyons (Upper Blackville, New Brunswick) in the slot. Lyons' shot deflected off a stick, off the end boards and came to freshman Liz Connelly (Braintree, Mass.) on the far post, but Connelly's attempt merely trickled along the goal line.
• Ross got to a one-on-one with about two minutes left in regulation, but her backhanded shot was stopped at the net.
• PSU's best chance came on the power play in the final minute. Junior Georgia McLellan (Kamloops, British Columbia) fired a shot from the point and the deflection found sophomore Meghan Hamilton (Walpole, Mass.) on the post, but Weir made a stick save.
• Moments after Ross' near miss in OT, NEC freshman Emily Lenzen (Littleton, Colo.) blocked a shot which led to a 2-on-0 breakout for the Pilgrims. Petito came out of the net to make a clutch blocker save to preserve the tie.
• The teams opted for a shootout following the overtime, with Ross potting the deciding goal in the 18th round to give the Panthers bragging rights (5-4).

By the Numbers:

• Petito (1-0-1) picked up her second career shutout after stopping all 18 shots she faced.
• Weir (0-4-2) notched her fourth career shutout while making a season-high 48 saves.
• Lyons, freshman Carsen Moffett (Kamloops, British Columbia), junior Siri Brett (Wenatchee, Wash.) each scored once in the shootout, while Ross found the back of the net twice.
• NEC holds a slight edge in the all-time series (12-11-3), but Plymouth State is unbeaten in the last ten meetings (9-0-1) dating back to November 2016.

Up Next:

• The same two teams wrap up the weekend series tomorrow (Mar. 6) at NEC's Lee Clement Arena. Puck drop is set for 4:00 p.m.