BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore
Jacqueline Martin (Smithfield, R.I.) potted her first goal of the season, but the University of Massachusetts Boston held off Plymouth State University, 4-1, in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) women's ice hockey action at Edward T. Barry Ice Rink on Saturday.
Though the Beacons controlled play for much of the opening period, senior
Amelia Julian (Apple Valley, Minn.) made a remarkable 17 saves to limit the deficit to just 1-0 heading into the first intermission.
The hosts scored twice in a 58 second span in the early stages of the second to create some distance, but Martin answered right back with a beautiful goal through traffic that clanked off the far post and in to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Play went back-and-forth through the third period, but PSU was unable to get any closer and an empty net strike with 2:42 remaining closed out the game.
Plymouth State moves to 3-12-0 (3-7-0 NEHC), while UMass Boston sits at 5-9-3 (4-4-2 NEHC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, UMass Boston 4
- Plymouth State (3-12-0, 3-7-0 NEHC)
- UMass Boston (5-9-3, 4-4-2 NEHC)
How it Happened:
- Julian made a pair of stellar saves, including during a 1-on-0 break, midway through the opening period to keep the game scoreless.
- The Beacons went ahead at 12:37 when a shot from the top of the right circle found the top right corner.
- Julian was stingy the rest of the frame despite facing heavy pressure as PSU trailed 1-0 heading into the intermission.
- UMB doubled the margin during a power play early in the second when a shot from the point made its way past a heavily screened Julian to make it 2-0.
- The hosts pushed the lead to 3-0 with a rebound goal just under a minute later.
- Plymouth State used its timeout to regroup and immediately put pressure on the Beacons. Sophomore Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) put a puck on net from the right circle and senior Sophie Streed (Surry, N.H.) got a stick on the rebound. The puck slid to Martin, who fired a shot through traffic, off the left post and in to make it 3-1 with 13:18 left in the frame.
- The Panthers had heavy zone time during a power play late in the period and junior Emily DeSimone (Norwood, Mass.) flipped the puck in front where freshman Laura Castronova (Hauppauge, N.Y.) was poised to strike, but the UMB goalie pounced on the puck.
- Julian made a key blocker save at the seven-minute mark of the third to keep it a two-goal game.
- Junior Libby Carter (Franklin, Mass.) had a bid with 7:27 left to play when she found space alone on the left side but her blast to the stick side was kicked aside.
- UMass Boston put the game out of reach with the empty net tally with 2:42 to play.
By the Numbers:
- Julian posted 34 saves, with half of them coming in the opening period.
- Martin tallied her first goal of the year and second of her career and has registered points in consecutive games.
- Porrello picked up her team-leading seventh assist of the year. Her ten points are also a team high.
- The Beacons went 1-for-4 on the power play, while PSU was 0-for-2.
- UMB held a 38-23 advantage in shots, largely due to an onslaught of 18 first-period shots on goal.
- Plymouth State goes to 7-14-3 against the Beacons.
Up Next:
- The Panthers visit Wesleyan on Tuesday (Jan. 16). Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m.
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