PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Top-seeded Plymouth State University erupted for five goals in the second period, then survived a rally from seventh-seeded Framingham State University to top the Rams, 8-4, in the semifinals of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men's Ice Hockey Tournament on Tuesday night at Hanaway Rink.
Plymouth State, seeking a third straight MASCAC Tournament championship, will host the winner of fifth-seeded Westfield State and sixth-seeded Salem State in the title game Saturday (Mar. 5) at 4:00 p.m.
PSU held a 1-0 lead after the first period but exploded for three goals in the first 4:37 of the second. The Panthers added a pair of scores just 1:29 apart midway through the frame before the Rams got on the board during a five-on-three power play with three seconds left in the stanza.
Framingham State rode the momentum to three straight goals in the third period, including two more power play strikes, to cut the deficit to 6-4 with 5:05 left to play. Plymouth State answered with an empty netter, though, and added an insurance tally 32 seconds later to put the game out of reach.
Plymouth State improves to 18-5-2 and will attempt to become the league's first three-peat champion on Saturday. The Panthers will be appearing in the title game for the ninth time in the last ten seasons.
Framingham State ends its year with a 3-21-1 mark. The Rams advanced to the semifinal round for the first time in program history after upsetting second-seeded Fitchburg State, 1-0, in a first round game last Saturday.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 8, Framingham State 4
- Plymouth State (18-5-2)
- Framingham State (3-21-1)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State had an early chance when senior Mike McPherson (Somerville, Mass.) tried a wrap-around bid in the opening minute, but sophomore goalie Blake Carlson (Clermont, Fla.) dove across the goal line for a stick save.
- The Panthers opened the scoring at the 8:53 mark when sophomore Whim Stalberg (Gotenburg, Sweden) took a short pass from graduate student Peter Laviolette (Longboat Key, Fla.) at center ice, skated around the Framingham State goal and snapped a wrist shot to the top left corner.
- PSU doubled its lead when Laviolette fired a shot from the low slot and sophomore Jeromey Rancourt (Lewiston, Maine) backhanded the rebound into the open net just 1:56 into the second, leading to an offensive outburst.
- The Panthers added goals by senior Grant DeWitt (Bowling Green, Ohio) and junior Myles Abbate (Norwell, Mass.) less than a minute apart as the lead grew to 4-0 at the 4:37 mark of the middle period. DeWitt tucked a shot inside the left post from just outside the left faceoff circle and Abbate scored from the slot after quick passes from McPherson and graduate student JR Barone (West Chester, Pa.).
- Junior Jacob Laurin (Stockholm, Sweden) one-timed a shot in the slot with 9:13 left in the frame and Barone picked off a pass in the offensive zone and snaped a wrist shot to the top left corner 1:29 to balloon the lead to 6-0.
- Framingham State started its comeback bid during a two-man advantage when junior Jake Garman (Anchorage, Alaska) converted with three seconds left on the clock to make it 6-1 heading into the third.
- The Rams took advantage of the wrap around power play 1:18 into the second as Garman knocked in a rebound to trim the Panthers' lead to 6-2.
- Framingham State caught a lucky break midway through the third when a linesman tripped up a Panther skater, leading to a 1-on-0 breakout for the Rams, and freshman Dylan Marty (New Richmond, Wis.,) was able to convert to make it a three-goal game, 6-3.
- Framingham State kept the pressure on, cashing in for a third power play goal with 5:05 left to play, when freshman Patrick Colgan (Yorktown, N.Y.) fired a shot from inside the blue line off a faceoff draw.
- McPherson gave Plymouth State some breathing room with an empty net goal from the neutral zone with 2:37 to play and just 32 seconds later Barone tallied his second of the net to send the Panthers back to the title game.
By the Numbers:
- Barone finished with two goals and two assists, while Abbate and McPherson both chipped in a goal and an assist apiece.
- Laviolette also had a multi-point game with a pair of helpers.
- Sophomore Kalle Andersson (Taby, Sweden) finished with 22 saves to pick up the win, while Carlson made 42 stops for the Rams.
- PSU outshot Framingham by a 50-26 margin, but the Rams used the power play to stay in the game, converting 3-of-5 chances while holding Plymouth State to 0-for-3.
- The Panthers have won 17 straight against Framingham State and are 23-0-1 since the start of 2014.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host the winner of fifth-seeded Westfield State and sixth-seeded Salem State in Saturday's championship game. Puck drop is set for 4:00 p.m.
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