PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Meghan Hamilton (Walpole, Mass.) tallied a goal and an assist and head coach
Mollie Fitzpatrick earned her first career victory as Plymouth State University held off Curry College, 3-2, in non-conference women's ice hockey action at Hanaway Rink on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers were off to a fast start putting up two goals in the opening period when senior
Addie Swanson (Eagle River, Alaska) slid a shot right by the goaltender during a power play opportunity. Hamilton then followed up with the second score of the game as she snuck one right past the goalie to the opposite corner to put the Panthers ahead, 2-0.
Curry quickly responded in the second with a pair of tallies of their own to tie the game at 2-2, but freshman
Sanna Augustsson (Satila, Sweden) scored the game-winner and first goal of her career in the third period to secure a 3-2 win and split of the weekend-long home-and-home series with the Colonels.
The victory was the first for new Panthers' head coach
Mollie Fitzpatrick.
Plymouth State gets its first win of the year to move up to 1-3-0, while Curry drops to 2-1-0.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Curry 2
- Plymouth State (1-3-0)
- Curry (2-1-0)
How it Happened:
- Squaring off for the second time in just 17 hours, the Panthers got off to a hot start as Swanson, senior Sophie Streed (Surry, N.H.) and junior Mia Zaniboni (Braintree, Mass.) overpowered Curry with multiple shots.
- Swanson quickly took advantage of the Panthers' first power play chance, scoring just eight seconds into the power play with assists from Hamilton and sophomore Emily DeSimone (Walpole, Mass.) for a 1-0 lead.
- PSU continued to pressure the Colonels, which led to Hamilton and DeSimone teaming up once again and Hamilton's score made it a 2-0 lead heading to the second period.
- Augustsson and graduate student Siri Brett (East Wenatchee, Wash.) tag-teamed in an attempt to pull away with another score, but both of their shots were blocked.
- The Colonels took possession during their own power play chance and managed to cut the lead down to 2-1 eight minutes into the middle frame, and Curry pulled even during another 5-on-4 advantage later in the frame as the game entered the third period deadlocked at 2-2.
- Both teams remained steady as they were shot for shot to start the third, but Curry lost the battle as Augustsson converted with a pair of Colonels in the box for the 3-2 win.
By the Numbers:
- Hamilton finished with a goal and an assist, while DeSimone had a pair of helpers and leads the team with four points thus far.
- Plymouth State went 2-for-2 with the skater advantage, while the Colonels were 2-for-5.
- Curry held a 34-24 margin in shots over the Panthers.
- Junior Amelia Julian (Apple Valley, Minn.) had another productive outing with 32 saves.
- The Panthers' defense was impressive as they aided Julian with 18 blocked shots.
- The weekend marked the first meetings between the two teams, as the all-time series is now knotted at 1-1.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State welcomes New England College to Hanaway Rink next Friday (Nov. 11) to kick off the NEHC schedule. Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m.
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