PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Plymouth State University raced out to a 2-0 first period lead, but Suffolk University scored four unanswered goals in the middle stanza to top the Panthers, 4-2, in a season-opening women's ice hockey matchup at Hanaway Rink on Friday afternoon.
Senior
Meghan Hamilton (Walpole, Mass.) and graduate student
Siri Brett (East Wenatchee, Wash.) both lit the lamp in the first period as Plymouth State jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
Suffolk regrouped during the intermission, though, racing out of the gates in the second period with two quick goals to pull even. The Rams went ahead midway through the period, then tacked on an insurance goal to take a 4-2 advantage into the third period and Plymouth State was unable to rally.
The Panthers move to 0-1-0 after coming up short in head coach
Mollie Fitzpatrick's debut, while Suffolk starts the season 1-0-0.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Suffolk 4
- Plymouth State (0-1-0)
- Suffolk (1-0-0)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State got on the board midway through the opening period. Sophomore Emily DeSimone (Walpole, Mass.) made a cross ice pass in the defensive zone to Hamilton, who skated up ice and around four defenders before firing a wrist shot to the top right corner for the first goal of the season.
- Suffolk had a golden opportunity to pull even with an extended power play, but the Panthers' penalty kill unit and junior goaltender Amelia Julian (Apple Valley, Minn.) held strong to maintain the lead.
- PSU doubled the margin late in the period when junior Mia Zaniboni (Braintree, Mass.) fired a shot from the blue line. The pad save deflected to Brett on the near side, and her low angle shot snuck past the goaltender for a 2-0 lead.
- Suffolk regrouped during the intermission and scored a pair of goals in the first 3:24 to pull even.
- The Rams jumped ahead midway through the period with a power play tally, then extended the margin to 4-2 with 6:40 left in the frame.
- Hamilton and DeSimone just missed connecting on a give-and-go with five minutes remaining in the Panthers' last prime scoring chance.
By the Numbers:
- Brett's goal was the fifth of her career, while Hamilton picked up her sixth career tally.
- DeSimone, Zaniboni and sophomore Brenna Smith (Medfield, Mass.) all picked up assists in the setback.
- Julian finished with 21 saves.
- Plymouth State is 1-5-0 against the Rams, last earning the win in February, 2019.
- The Rams were receiving votes in the season's first DCU/USCHO.com Poll.
Up Next:
- The Panthers are right back on the ice on Saturday (Oct. 29) with a 4:00 p.m. game against Worcester State.
– 30 –
