GENEVA, N.Y. – Senior
Amelia Julian (Apple Valley, Minn.) finished with 40 saves and Plymouth State University nearly potted the equalizer in the final minute of regulation, but William Smith College held off the Panthers, 1-0, in a New England Hockey Conference women's ice hockey game at The Cooler on Friday night.
Julian was dialed in from the start, using excellent rebound control to hold the Herons' offense at bay. Sophomore
Jacqueline Martin (Smithfield, R.I.) had a pair of great opportunities during power plays late in the first period and again in the third, but both times the William Smith netminder was up to the challenge. The hosts took advantage of a lucky break 5:48 into the second when a blocked shot bounced directly to a Herons' skater for a rebound goal, the game's lone tally.
Julian left the net with just over a minute left in regulation and the Panthers kept the pressure on, looking to bring the contest to overtime. Freshman
Emily Gerrie (Littleton, Colo.) found herself alone on the left side and teed up a shot from close range, but William Smith's goalie made an outstanding save to preserve the win.
Plymouth State moves to 3-8-0 (3-4-0 NEHC), while the Herons jump to 11-3-0 and 6-1-0 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, William Smith 1
- Plymouth State (3-8-0, 3-4-0 NEHC)
- William Smith (11-3-0, 6-1-0 NEHC)
How it Happened:
- Julian denied William Smith on its first good scoring chance eight minutes into the opening frame. A Herons' skater fired a pass from behind the goal to an open skater in the slot, but Julian stuffed the shot and covered up.
- Moments later, junior Emily DeSimone (Norwood, Mass.) stole the puck in the offensive zone and found senior Carsen Moffett (Kamloops, British Columbia) in front but Moffett's wrister went just wide of the post.
- The Panthers built some zone pressure in the late stages of the frame, but PSU was unable to capitalize.
- Martin gave PSU its best chance during a power play in the final minute of the stanza, but her bid was kicked aside.
- The hosts got on the board at the 5:48 mark of the second. A Herons' skater beat out a potential icing call to create offensive pressure. A shot from the point was blocked in front but the puck deflected to a William Smith skater who fired a quick shot to the stick side.
- Senior Mia Zaniboni (Braintree, Mass.) nearly pulled the Panthers even with a huge slapshot from the blue line with eight minutes left in the middle stanza and sophomore Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) had her rebound attempt stopped as the 1-0 score held into the second intermission.
- Sophomore Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) found space alone on the backside post in the opening five minutes of the third, but her redirect was saved by the Herons' goaltender.
- PSU had a pair of chances on the power play with seven minutes to play but was unable to convert. The Herons countered as the penalty expired, but Julian came out to make a pair of spectacular saves and Martin cleared the rolling puck out of the crease.
- With the extra skater on for the final minute, Gerrie had perhaps the best chance of the night when she received a pass alone on the left side, but the William Smith netminder made a brilliant save to secure the game.
By the Numbers:
- Julian reached the 40-save threshold for the third time this season and sixth time in her career.
- Martin led the team with six shots, while all four of Cunningham's strikes were on goal.
- Porrello won ten faceoffs.
- Neither team was successful on the power play. PSU finished 0-for-3, while the Herons went 0-for-2.
- William Smith held a 41-27 edge in shots on goal.
- The Panthers blocked six shots.
- Plymouth State dips to 0-4-0 against the Herons all time. This was the second meeting to end in a 1-0 score.
Up Next:
- PSU gets right back on the ice tomorrow (Jan. 6) with a 3:00 p.m. contest at #12 Elmira.
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