PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Amelia Julian (Apple Valley, Minn.) made 32 saves and Plymouth State University blocked 22 shots, but #7 Elmira squeaked past the Panthers, 2-0, in a New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) women's ice hockey contest at Hanaway Rink on Friday evening.
Elmira applied heavy offensive throughout, but Julian was up to the test. After the Soaring Eagles hit the pipe on a breakout chance the PSU defense stepped up to disrupt shooting lanes. The visitors lit the lamp in the final 30 seconds of the opening period on a shot that redirected off a defender and Julian would keep it a one-goal game until the final two minutes of the contest.
PSU had limited offensive chances, but nearly caught Elmira in a line change in the last minutes of the middle stanza. Elmira closed out the narrow victory with less than 90 seconds on the clock with an insurance goal and, despite pulling Julian for an extra skater, the Panthers were unable to rally.
Plymouth State slips to 2-7-0 (1-4-0 NEHC), while Elmira improves to 8-2-0 and remains perfect in conference play (7-0-0).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, #7 Elmira 2
- Plymouth State (2-7-0, 1-4-0 NEHC)
- Elmira (8-2-0, 7-0-0 NEHC)
How it Happened:
- The Soaring Eagles had the game's first good scoring chance at the 7:54 mark of the opening period after forcing a turnover in the neutral zone. Elmira skated in on a 3-on-2, but the shot hit the pipe and deflected away.
- Elmira broke through in the with just 23 seconds left in the first when a slapshot from just inside the blueline deflected off a defender and into the goal.
- The Soaring Eagles remained on the attack throughout the second period, but Julian made save after save, while the PSU defense clogged shooting lanes and blocked several shots.
- The Panthers nearly caught Elmira in a line change late in the second when junior Lauren McNeil (Ottawa, Ontario) sent a long pass through the neutral zone to sophomore Emily DeSimone (Walpole, Mass.) at the blue line with seniors Addie Swanson (Eagle River, Alaska) and Meghan Hamilton (Walpole, Mass.) crashing in for a 3-on-2 break, but DeSimone's blast was paddled aside.
- Julian came up huge midway through the third period as an Elmira pass through the slot found a skater alone on the weakside, but Julian stuffed the shot to keep it a one-goal game.
- Elmira struck late in the third period to end the Panthers' upset bid. With just 1:25 remaining in the contest a wrist shot from the high slot snuck through to account for the final score.
- PSU pulled the goalie and pressured the Elmira defense late but was unable to find the back of the net as time ran out on the Panthers.
By the Numbers:
- Julian's 32 saves were one shy of her season high. She has eclipsed the 30-save threshold three times this season.
- Junior Carsen Moffett (Kamloops, British Columbia) led the Panthers with two shots on goal as PSU was limited to nine total shots.
- Each team was unsuccessful in its lone power play chance.
- Freshman Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) went 8-8 in the faceoff circle.
- Elmira has won all three meetings between the two teams.
Up Next:
- PSU is back in NEHC action tomorrow afternoon when the Panthers host William Smith for a 2:00 p.m. matinee.
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