PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Taylor Thomas (Prior Lake, Minn.) potted the game-winning power play goal 13:22 into the third period as Plymouth State University slipped past New England College, 2-1, in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) women's ice hockey action at Hanaway Rink on Friday night.
PSU took a first period lead when freshman
Brenna Smith (Medfield, Mass.) scored her first career goal, but the Pilgrims came back with a strong second period to even the score. Senior
Georgia McLellan (Kamloops, British Columbia) fired a shot from the blue line off a faceoff win and the rebound skipped to Thomas in the low slot. Her follow up shot went through the Pilgrims' goaltender and the Panthers killed successive 5-on-3 power play chances for NEC late in the third to earn the win.
Plymouth State moves to 5-8-1 (3-5-0 NEHC) with the win, while the Pilgrims drop to 3-11-0 and 0-9-0 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, NEC 1
- Plymouth State (5-8-1, 3-5-0 NEHC)
- NEC (3-11-0, 0-9-0 NEHC)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers took an early lead when Smith snuck a wrist shot from just inside the blue line through traffic at 4:13 of the opening period.
- NEC had a chance to draw even in the early stages of the second, but McLellan blocked a shot on a 2-on-1 break and classmate Kassidy Lyons (Upper Blackville, New Brunswick) deflected another shot out of play.
- The Pilgrims, on their fifth power play of the middle stanza, were finally able to convert to tie the score when a wrist shot from the point snuck past senior Olivia Petito (Jacksonville, Fla.) with 2:46 left in the frame.
- Junior Abigale McGee (Bozeman, Mont.) nearly put the Panthers back in front when she tipped a shot right in front of the net during a power play, but the NEC goalie was able to make the stop.
- NEC had a huge opportunity midway through the period when a skater tracked down a loose puck for a 1-on-0 break, but Petito smothered the shot to keep the game tied.
- Thomas gave the Panthers the lead nine seconds into a power play opportunity when she deposited a long rebound off a shot from the blue line by McLellan with 6:38 remaining.
- NEC had a chance late with a pair of 5-on-3 power plays, but the PSU defense held tight to secure the win.
By the Numbers:
- NEC held a narrow 30-27 edge in shots.
- The Panthers went 1-for-3 on the power play, while New England College was 1-for-9.
- Plymouth State blocked 21 shots, led by four from Lyons and three each from four different players.
- Petito made 29 saves to pick up the win.
- PSU improves to 11-1-1 in head to head matchups with the Pilgrims dating back to the 2016-17 season.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State plays host to #9 Norwich University in another NEHC game tomorrow (Jan. 22) afternoon with puck drop slated for 2:00 p.m.
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