PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Emily Biggin (Didsbury, Alberta) scored the game's only goal and junior
Amelia Julian (Apple Valley, Minn.) made 19 saves for her third career shutout as Plymouth State University held off New England College, 1-0, in the first New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) women's ice hockey game of the season at Hanaway Rink on Friday night.
The teams battled through a scoreless first period, but Biggin put PSU ahead just under six minutes into the second after her blocked shot led to a breakout chance. The 5-8 forward held off a Pilgrims' skater, then used a burst of speed to create space before firing a wrist shot under the glove of the NEC goaltender.
Julian was spectacular between the pipes to preserve the narrow margin, making 17 of her 19 saves over the final 40 minutes.
Plymouth State wins its second straight to improve to 2-3-0 while kicking its NEHC slate off on the right foot (1-0-0), while NEC goes to 2-2-0 and 0-2-0 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, NEC 0
- Plymouth State (2-3-0, 1-0-0 NEHC)
- NEC (2-2-0, 0-2-0 NEHC)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers had an early chance just three minutes in when sophomore Emily DeSimone (Walpole, Mass.) skated in along the left side before looking for senior Meghan Hamilton (Walpole, mass.) at the back door, but the pass eluded Hamilton's stick.
- NEC had a pair of power play chances in the opening frame, but the Plymouth State penalty kill unit was up to the task.
- Julian made a key glove save in the final minute of the frame to keep the game scoreless into the first intermission.
- Freshman Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) blasted a turnaround slapshot off a bouncing puck 2:35 into the second period, but the Pilgrims' goaltender was able to kick it away.
- Biggin broke through at the 5:50 mark when she blocked an NEC shot and outskated a pair of defenders before whipping a wrist shot just inside the right post for the 1-0 lead.
- NEC started the third period with heavy zone pressure, but the Panthers packed the defensive zone.
- The Pilgrims' last good scoring chance came on a low angle shot with 3:34 remaining, but Julian smothered the puck without allowing a rebound and PSU held on for the win.
By the Numbers:
- Plymouth State blocked 19 shots.
- The Pilgrims owned a 19-16 advantage in shots on goal.
- NEC went 0-for-3 on the power play as the Panthers' penalty kill was outstanding.
- PSU now leads the all-time series 14-13-3. The Panthers have controlled the matchup lately, going 12-1-1 against the Pilgrims since the 2016-17 season.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host #9 Norwich in another NEHC contest Saturday (Nov. 12) afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
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