PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Emily DeSimone (Norwood, Mass.) potted her first goal of the season, but Vermont State University Castleton got past Plymouth State University, 3-1, in a New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) women's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Friday night.
The Spartans raced out to a quick lead early in the first period and struck twice in the first three minutes of the second to extend the lead to 3-0.
Plymouth State recovered, controlling play for much of the middle stanza while holding an impressive 23-9 advantage in shots, but the stingy VTSU Castleton goaltender kept the Panthers off the board.
DeSimone finally broke through with 2:41 left to play and PSU opted for the extra skater over the final 1:36 but was unable to pull any closer.
Plymouth State falls to 3-14-0 (3-8-0 NEHC), while the Spartans improve to 6-10-2 and 4-5-2 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, VTSU Castleton 3
- Plymouth State (3-14-0, 3-8-0 NEHC)
- VTSU Castleton (6-10-2, 4-5-2 NEHC)
How it Happened:
- VTSU Castleton jumped out the early lead just 2:19 into the game when a turnaround shot from the left circle snuck past senior goalie Amelia Julian (Apple Valley, Minn.).
- The remainder of the opening period saw up-and-down action, with the Panthers applying pressure in the final two minutes. DeSimone weaved through the defense and put the puck on net and senior Sophie Streed (Surry, N.H.) whipped a wrist shot from the slot that was paddled aside as the score remained 1-0 into the intermission.
- The Spartans burst out of the break with a pair of goals just 58 seconds apart to extend the margin to 3-0. An offensive zone steal resulted in a Castleton tally 1:46 into the frame, and a blocked shot turned into a breakaway goal at 2:44.
- PSU had a golden opportunity to get on the board two minutes later when sophomore Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) and Streed broke in for a 2-on-0. Cunningham carried the puck down the left side and past the defense but her bid to the near post was blockered away.
- The Panthers built zone time during a power play late in the frame and Cunningham's forecheck led to a pair of shorthanded opportunities for senior Robyn Grant (Airdrie, Alberta), but again the visitors' netminder was up to the challenge.
- Senior Lauren McNeil (Ottawa, Ontario) attempted to stuff the puck in on the farside during a power play with about six minutes to play, but the goalie was able to cover the post.
- DeSimone took a feed from sophomore Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) through the neutral zone and skated down the right side before cutting toward the goal late in the third period. She lifted a back-hander to the top left corner with 2:41 left on the clock to cut into the deficit.
- Plymouth State opted for the extra skater over the last 1:36 but was unable to pull any closer.
By the Numbers:
- Julian finished with 19 saves.
- Plymouth State went 27-19 in the faceoff circle, with Porrello winning a game-high 14 draws.
- Porrello recorded her team-leading eighth assist.
- McNeil had six of the Panthers' 17 blocked shots.
- Plymouth State held a 41-22 advantage in shots for the game.
- Neither team was successful on the power play. PSU was held scoreless in four chances while the Spartans finished 0-for-2.
- The Spartans have won each of the last six matchups.
Up Next:
- The two teams close out the home-and-home series tomorrow (Jan. 20) with a 3:00 p.m. contest at Spartan Arena.
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