ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Senior
Chantelle Ross (Ottawa, Ontario) attempted to spark a third-period rally with her third goal of the season, but Johnson & Wales University was able to hold off the Panthers, 4-1, In a New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) women's ice hockey game at New England Sports Village on Friday night.
Playing for the first time in 27 days, the Panthers fell behind 2-0 after the Wildcats scored twice in the second period. The hosts added a third tally midway through the third before Ross got the PSU on the board with an extra skater, power play goal with 2:46 left to go.
JWU committed another penalty just ten seconds later to give the Panthers another two-skater edge, but a Wildcats' skater intercepted a pass and potted an empty netter to squash the comeback bid.
Plymouth State dips to 2-11-0 (1-6-0 NEHC), while Johnson & Wales moves to 1-8-2 and 1-4-2 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, Johnson & Wales 4
- Plymouth State (2-11-0, 1-6-0 NEHC)
- Johnson & Wales (1-8-2, 1-4-2 NEHC)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State nearly took an early lead when junior Lauren McNeil (Ottawa, Ontario) snagged a loose puck in the corner, made a move around a Wildcats' skater, and picked up speed through the neutral zone before firing a shot on target from the point. Her blast got over the glove of the JWU goaltender but rang the right post just over three minutes into the game.
- The teams would skate evenly the remainder of the opening frame, with the hosts holding a slight 10-9 edge in shots.
- Freshman Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) had a chance early in the second period when she skated in on the left side and whipped a wrist shot at the goal, but the JWU goaltender was able to smother the shot.
- Moments later a steal in the neutral zone led to a breakout chance for Porrello, but again the Wildcats' goalie was up to the task.
- JWU had a chance midway through the second during a 2-on-1 break, but junior Amelia Julian (Apple Valley, Minn.) paddled away the shot to keep the game scoreless.
- The hosts broke through at the 12:41 mark during another breakout opportunity. Julian made an impressive kick save on the initial shot, but a Wildcats' skater was there to clean up the rebound.
- JWU doubled its lead less than a minute later when a loose puck found a skater in the slot, who converted to make it 2-0.
- PSU came right back down the ice with a 2-on-1 advantage of its own, but senior Meghan Hamilton (Walpole, Mass.) had her blast kicked aside and the rebound hopped over Ross' stick.
- The Wildcats added a third period tally to extend the margin to 3-0.
- PSU opted for an extra skater during a power play late in the frame and Ross' turnaround shot deflected off a defender and into the net to make it 3-1 with 2:46 left on the clock.
- Johnson & Wales was sent to the box again just ten seconds later, giving PSU another 6-on-4 chance, but an intercepted pass led to an empty net goal to account for the 4-1 final score.
By the Numbers:
- Ross' tally was her third of the season and 12th of her career. She has two goals and four points over her last three games.
- Sophomore Emily DeSimone (Walpole, Mass.) picked up her team-leading seventh assist of the season.
- Julian finished with a season-high 35 saves.
- JWU outshot the Panthers by a 39-27 margin, including 15-4 in the second period.
- Plymouth State was 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Panthers' penalty kill unit held JWU scoreless in four chances.
- The Wildcats now lead the all-time series, 5-4-1. The teams split last season's head-to-head matchup, with each team winning at the other's rink.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State stays in conference action on Saturday (Jan. 7) when the Panthers visit UMass Boston for a 3:00 p.m. contest.
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