WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior
Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) became just the second Plymouth State University women's ice hockey player to score four goals in a game as she lifted the Panthers past Worcester State University, 4-3, in overtime in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opener at Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center on Tuesday evening.
Porrello, who matched the program record for goals in a game set by Elizabeth Murray in 2008, provided all the offense the Panthers would need. The Lancers opened the scoring with just 1:38 left in the first period but Porrello notched her first of the night with a power play strike in the final minute of the second and the game went into the final stanza locked at 1-1.
Porrello gave PSU its first lead of the night less than two minutes into the third, but the hosts would rally with back-to-back scores to go back in front. Graduate student
Carsen Moffett (Kamloops, British Columbia) won an offensive zone faceoff directly to Porrello in the high slot and her quick shot tied the game with 7:30 left in regulation.
The Panthers would open overtime on the power play. Graduate student
Lauren McNeil (Ottawa, Ontario) nearly won it with a blast from the left side that hit the right post. Sophomore
Emily Gerrie (Littleton, Colo.) flipped the rebound into the slot and Porrello banged it home to cap the historic night.
Plymouth State improves to 3-2-0 (1-0-0 MASCAC), while the Lancers fall to 0-4-0 (0-1-0 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, Worcester State 3
- Plymouth State (3-2-0, 1-0-0 MASCAC)
- Worcester State (0-4-0, 0-1-0 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- Worcester State opened the scoring with just 1:38 left in the first period.
- Plymouth State pulled even with a power play strike in the final minute of the second. The Panthers built up a ton of zone time before junior Caeli Reed (Norwood, Mass.) blasted a slap shot from the point. The shot was deflected to McNeil on the left side, who put the puck on net and Porrello deposited the rebound into the goal.
- Porrello struck again just 1:43 into the third period to put the Panthers in front. Senior Libby Carter (Franklin, Mass.) poked the puck free in the corner to Porrello, who skated toward the net before ripping a shot to the top left corner for the 2-1 lead.
- Worcester State pulled even at the 8:05 mark of the frame when the puck took a poor deflection in the offensive zone and a quick pass left the Lancers with a breakaway goal.
- The hosts went back into the lead with a power play goal just over three minutes later.
- Porrello answered right back just 1:16 later. With the Panthers on the power play, Moffett won an offensive zone faceoff to Porrello in the slot and she beat the goalkeeper high to the stick side to tie the game at 3-3.
- PSU had the skater advantage to start the overtime period. McNeil nearly won it 15 seconds in, but her shot hit the right post. Gerrie, falling to the ice with her back to the goal, flipped the puck towards the goal and Porrello deposited it into the net for the win.
By the Numbers:
- Porrello joins Murray as the only two players in history to score four goals in a game. She becomes the first Panther to score three power play goals in a game.
- Porrello also tied the record for points in a game, accomplished five other times.
- PSU's three power play goals also matched the program record.
- McNeil had a multi-point game with two helpers, while Reed, Moffett, Gerrie and Carter all registered assists.
- Sophomore Teagan Wilson (Salisbury, Mass.) made 32 saves to pick up the win.
- Plymouth State had a 44-35 advantage in shots.
- This was just the second meeting between the two programs. Worcester State eked past the Panthers, 3-2, two years ago.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits Salem State for another league game next Tuesday (Nov. 19). Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m.
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