NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Junior
Amelia Julian (Apple Valley, Minn.) stopped 34 shots and Plymouth State University limited #8 Norwich University to just two goals, but PSU was unable to find the back of the net in a 2-0 setback to the Cadets in a New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) women's ice hockey game at Kreitzberg Arena on Friday night.
The Panthers had several early scoring opportunities but were unable to break through and the hosts opened the scoring at the 7:15 mark of the opening period. Norwich doubled the lead early in the second. PSU pressured the Norwich defense through the remainder of the middle period, but the Cadets' goaltender turned aside every opportunity.
The two-goal deficit was best outcome for the Panthers since a 4-2 setback on Nov. 3, 2018.
PSU head coach
Mollie Fitzpatrick was making her return to Norwich, where she won national titles as both a player and assistant coach.
Plymouth State dips to 2-16-0 (1-10-0 NEHC), while Cadets improve to 11-5-1 and 9-1-1 in league play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, #8 Norwich 2
- Plymouth State (2-16-0, 1-10-0 NEHC)
- Norwich (11-5-1, 9-1-1 NEHC)
How it Happened:
- PSU had the first scoring opportunity just over three minutes into the game when Norwich turned the puck over in its defensive zone, but junior Carsen Moffett (Kamloops, British Columbia) was denied from the slot and again on the rebound.
- Minutes later junior Robyn Grant (Airdrie, Alberta) deflected a pass, leading to a breakaway chance, but her bid from the top of the right circle was kicked aside.
- The Panthers' best chance came after another intercepted pass led to a 3-on-1 breakaway, but freshman Jacqueline Martin (Smithfield, R.I.) saw her shot gloved down.
- Norwich capitalized on a 2-on-1 break at the 7:15 mark of the period to get on the board and the hosts would carry the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
- The Cadets pushed the margin to 2-0 just 5:09 into the second period.
- PSU caught a break minutes later when a low angle shot from the left side got over Julian's shoulder but hit the crossbar and bounced out.
- The Panthers' offense responded with steady zone pressure during a power play chance midway through the stanza, but the Norwich defense held strong.
- Julian made a key stop during a breakaway opportunity with six minutes left in the period to preserve the two-goal deficit.
- The hosts brought heavy pressure with several scoring chances in the first five minutes of the third period, but Julian was on top of her game to deny every opportunity.
- Martin fired a slapshot from the point in the final seven minutes in one of PSU's last scoring bids, but her blast was kicked aside and the Panthers were unable to break through.
By the Numbers:
- Julian's 34 stops were just one shy of her season high. She's made more than 30 saves in three of the last six games.
- Neither team was successful on the power play, as Norwich finished 0-for-1 while the Panthers were held scoreless in two chances.
- The Cadets held a 36-12 advantage in shots.
- Senior Addie Swanson (Eagle River, Alaska) had a strong game in the faceoff circle, winning 8-of-12.
- Swanson and senior Taylor Thomas (Prior Lake, Minn.) shared the team lead with three shots apiece.
- PSU has never beaten the Cadets, but it was the most competitive game between the two squads since the 2018-19 season.
Up Next:
- PSU heads to New England College on Saturday (Jan. 21) looking for the season sweep of the Pilgrims. The Panthers skated to a 1-0 win in their matchup in November.
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