KEENE, N.H. – Sophomore
Laura Castronova (Hauppauge, N.Y.) scored twice and classmate
Karlee Lehner (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) posted 30 saves as Plymouth State University erupted for a 6-0 win over Keene State College in the women's ice hockey season opener at Keene ICE on Friday evening.
Castronova scored twice and added an assist, while senior
Emily DeSimone (Norwood, Mass.) also had a three-point game as the Panthers scored in bunches to start the year. After PSU took a 1-0 lead on a tally from junior
Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) midway through the first period, DeSimone and Castronova had a hand in each of the next three markers.
Lehner was outstanding in the shutout, making 15 of her 30 saves in the third period alone as the Owls pressed for the program's first goal.
Plymouth State starts its season at 1-0-0, while the Owls open their inaugural season at 0-1-0. The two teams will complete the weekend series at Hanaway Rink on Saturday (Nov. 2) afternoon.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 6, Keene State 0
- Plymouth State (1-0-0)
- Keene State (0-1-0)
How it Happened:
- Cunningham banged home the rebound off a shot by freshman Gracie Menicci (Pepperell, Mass.) at the 8:20 mark of the first for the early lead.
- DeSimone doubled the advantage with 4:50 left in the opening period. Junior Jacqueline Martin (Smithfield, R.I.) played the puck along the left boards to Castronova for a two-on-one, and Castronova hit DeSimone alone in front of the net. She made a quick deke to the backhand to make it a 2-0 game.
- DeSimone and Castronova connected for a pair of goals just 25 seconds apart in the middle stanza. DeSimone forced a turnover deep in Keene State territory before flipping a pass to Castronova in front for a 3-0 lead at the 12:35 mark, before DeSimone intercepted an Owls' pass and again found Castronova alone for the one-timer 25 seconds later.
- Sophomore Emma Lemery (Queensbury, N.Y.) skated through the neutral zone and set up graduate student Carsen Moffett (Kamloops, British Columbia) for a blast on net from the right side. Senior Libby Carter (Franklin, Mass.) snagged the rebound at the edge of the left circle and dumped the puck back towards the goal and it snuck past the KSC goalie to make it 5-0.
- The Panthers added a shorthanded goal late in the third period to account for the final score. Sophomore Jamie Steinmetz (Madison, Wis.) caused a turnover at the defensive blue line and threw the puck into the offensive zone. The puck bounced off the end boards and senior Emily Biggin (Didsbury, Alberta) collected the rebound and fired a quick wrister past the unsuspecting goalkeeper for the Panthers' sixth goal of the night.
By the Numbers:
- PSU's six goals were the most since a 6-0 win over UNE in November of 2019.
- Castronova set new career highs for goals in a game (two) and points in a game (three).
- DeSimone finished with a goal and two assists for her second career three-point game.
- Lehner's shutout was the first of her career.
- Ten different Panthers recorded points in the win.
- PSU held a 41-30 advantage in shots.
- Neither team was successful on the power play. PSU finished 0-for-3, while the Owls were held scoreless in five chances.
- Junior Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) won 10-of-17 faceoffs.
- Keene State is in its inaugural season of varsity women's ice hockey.
Up Next:
- The weekend series shifts to Plymouth on Saturday (Nov. 2), as the teams square off at 2:00 p.m. at Hanaway Rink.
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