BIDDEFORD, Maine – In a game that lasted nearly 85 minutes, #8 University of New England topped #15 Plymouth State University in double overtime, 3-2, in the first round of the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Tournament at Harold Alfond Forum on Saturday night.
Sophomore
Kalle Andersson (Taby, Sweden) was spectacular between the pipes, setting a new career high with 44 saves, but UNE senior Austin Morgan (Detroit, Mich.) skated through the neutral zone, got past the defense and was able to sneak the puck past Andersson 4:10 into the second overtime to end Plymouth State's season.
PSU had come flying out of the gates, scoring twice in the first 8:15 to build a 2-0 lead. The Nor'easters responded with a power play goal early in the second before potting the equalizer midway through the third. UNE controlled play through the first overtime period, but Andersson preserved the tie with xx saves in the frame, sending the game to a fifth period.
Plymouth State ends its season at 19-6-2 after a fifth NCAA Tournament appearance. UNE improves to 22-3-1 and moves to the national quarterfinal to face #2 Utica University next Saturday.
The Basics:
- #15 Plymouth State 2, #8 UNE 3 (2 OT)
- Plymouth State (19-6-2)
- UNE (22-3-1)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State opened the game with heavy offensive zone pressure. Senior Simon Besner (North Lancaster, Ontario) sent classmate Mike McPherson (Somerville, Mass.) on a breakaway with a long cross-ice pass through the neutral zone and McPherson outskated the lone defender and beat sophomore goaltender Billy Girard IV (Boca Raton, Fla.) high to the glove side 6:35 into the game.
- The Panthers struck again just 1:39 later as freshman Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) passed off the boards to junior Jacob Laurin (Stockholm, Sweden), who flew down the right side alone before snapping off a wrist shot low to the stick side.
- UNE cut the deficit in half during a power play when a soft shot from the blue line was redirected in front to make it 2-1 at the 3:14 mark of the middle stanza.
- The Nor'easters turned up the offensive pressure midway through the period, but a scrambling Andersson made several remarkable saves, including a diving stop to cover the puck.
- Plymouth State had a golden opportunity to expand the lead during a five-minute power play early in the third period, but Girard was a wall and PSU could not capitalize.
- UNE rode the momentum of the big penalty kill to even the game at the 3:30 mark when a turnaround shot from just inside the blue line snuck through traffic and past Andersson.
- The Nor'easters kept the pressure on in the late stages of the third period. Andersson made several clutch saves, stretching out to cover up and sprawling from post-to-post to keep the game tied.
- UNE had the first opportunity in overtime when a quick pass found a skater seemingly alone on the post but Andersson dove to snag the one-timed shot in his glove.
- Sophomore Jeromey Rancourt (Lewiston, Maine) had the Panthers' best shot in overtime when he parked in the slot and took a pass from behind the goal line, but Girard was up to the challenge.
- McPherson nearly ended the game with three minutes left when he skated down the left side and lifted a backhanded shot just over the crossbar and the game went to a second OT.
- Morgan picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and got behind the Plymouth State defense before stuffing the puck past Andersson for the game-winner.
By the Numbers:
- UNE held a 47-36 advantage in shots.
- Plymouth State finished 0-for-3 on the power play, while the Nor'easters were 1-of-3.
- The teams nearly split 83 faceoffs. PSU won 41 and UNE 42.
- The Panthers blocked 14 shots.
- McPherson's tally was his sixth of the year, while Laurin potted his seventh in just 12 games.
- Besner, Stuckless, graduate student JR Barone (West Chester, Pa.) and junior Ted Austin (Sylvania, Ohio) all had assists.
- Barone ends his career with 111 points to rank eighth all-time.
Up Next:
- The game marked the final contest for Barone, Besner, McPherson, graduate student Peter Laviolette (Longboat Key, Fla.) and seniors Ben Parker (Ashland, Mass.), Ben Chipman (North Vancouver, British Columbia), Grant DeWitt (Bowling Green, Ohio) and Jarrett Slear (West Chester, Pa.).
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