PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Amelia Julian (Apple Valley, Minn.) made 25 saves and allowed just one goal, but Castleton University had just enough offense to fend off Plymouth State University, 1-0, in the second end of a home-and-home series in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) women's ice hockey action at Hanaway Rink on Saturday.
The action went up-and-down the ice in the first period, but neither goaltender gave an inch as the score remained deadlocked at 0-0 into the middle of the second period. Castleton broke the scoreless tie at the 7:51 mark of the period and the lead would stand.
Plymouth State had a pair of prime opportunities late in the second period, but freshman
Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) was stuffed by the Castleton goalie on the doorstop and the Spartans' defense was able to break up a cross-ice pass to senior
Taylor Thomas (Prior Lake, Minn.) alone at the back door.
PSU had one last chance in the game's waning seconds during a 4-on-2 break, but a blast from freshman
Sanna Augustsson (Satila, Sweden) was gloved by the goalie and time ran out on the Panthers.
Plymouth State slips to 2-15-0 (1-9-0 NEHC), while Castleton goes to 10-6-1 and 7-3-0 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, Castleton 1
- Plymouth State (2-15-0, 1-9-0 NEHC)
- Castleton (10-6-1, 7-3-0 NEHC)
How it Happened:
- Julian came up with a big save five minutes into the opening frame on Castleton's first prime chance.
- The Spartans had another opportunity five minutes later during a 3-on-2 break but the shot from the right circle hit the post.
- Junior Lauren McNeil (Ottawa, Ontario) stole the puck in the defensive zone and skated through a pair of Spartans with just over a minute left in the period, but her shot from the point sailed just wide and the game went into the first intermission deadlocked at 0-0.
- Junior Robyn Grant (Airdrie, Alberta) fired a shot in the slot from close range, but the Castleton goaltender was able to smother the puck early in the second.
- Castleton broke the scoreless drought at the 7:51 mark of the period. After Julian kicked aside a shot from the left circle, the puck deflected off the end boards and a Spartans' skater was able to bury it to the far post.
- Plymouth State nearly pulled even in the early stages of the game's first power play, but Porrello was denied on the doorstep.
- PSU just missed on another opportunity with just over a minute remaining when senior Sophie Streed (Surry, N.H.) stole the puck at center ice and tried to hit Thomas on the far post, but the play was broken up.
- Senior Addie Swanson (Eagle River, Alaska) gloved down a pass in the offensive zone and had an open look from the high slot, but the Castleton goaltender was up to the challenge and the score would remain 1-0 into the third period.
- Castleton had a chance to add the lead during three consecutive power plays, but McNeil and junior Carsen Moffett (Kamloops, British Columbia) each blocked shots and Julian came up with several saves to keep it a one-goal game.
- PSU's last opportunity to pull even came in the final seconds. The Panthers, with the extra skater, flew into the zone on a 4-on-2 break, but the Castleton goaltender gloved the shot to preserve the win.
By the Numbers:
- Julian finished with 25 saves in the losing effort, reaching the threshold for the ninth time this season. Ten stops came during Spartans' power plays.
- Thomas had a team-high five shots, while senior Chantelle Ross (Ottawa, Ontario) finished with four.
- Moffett blocked five shots, with McNeil, Grant, and junior Isabella Borbridge (Calgary, Alberta) stopping three apiece. PSU finished with 18 blocks as a team.
- Castleton held a slight edge in shots, 26-21.
- PSU finished 0-for-1 on the power play, while the Spartans were 0-for-4.
- Castleton sweeps the season series and has won each of the last five meetings.
Up Next:
- The Panthers are back in action next Friday (Jan. 20) when they travel to #8 Norwich for a 6:00 p.m. contest.
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