PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Seniors
Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) and
Cam Patton (Bible Hill, Nova Scotia) poured in two goals and two assists apiece as Plymouth State University flew past Worcester State University, 8-2, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Friday night.
The Panthers dominated the opening period, outshooting Worcester State by a 20-1 margin to build a 3-0 lead. Worcester State got on the board early in the second and the teams traded goals to make it 4-2 heading into the final stanza.
PSU erupted for four goals in the final 20 minutes to coast to the conference win.
After being shut out in the season opener, Plymouth State has scored 22 goals in its last four games (3-1-0).
PSU improves to 3-2-0 (1-0-0 MASCAC), while the Lancers fall to 1-4-0 (0-1-0 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 8, Worcester State 2
- Plymouth State (3-2-0, 1-0-0 MASCAC)
- Worcester State (1-4-0, 0-1-0 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State opened the scoring at the 8:30 mark of the opening period. After freshman Luca Rea (Burlington, Ontario) forced an offensive zone turnover, sophomore Andrew Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) hit classmate Koby Howat (Honey Brook, Pa.) during a 2-on-1 and Howat's blast beat the Worcester State goalkeeper to the glove side.
- The Panthers doubled the lead with just under six minutes remaining when Patton won an offensive zone faceoff to E. Stuckless, who whipped a quick shot inside the right post.
- PSU made it 3-0 just over a minute later. Freshman Matt Hale (Center Harbor, N.H.) provided a heavy forecheck behind the Lancers' goal, forcing a turnover. Hale flipped the puck to senior Dante Moretti (Columbus, Ohio), alone on the left side, who rifled a shot just inside the near post.
- Worcester State got on the board early in the second period during a 2-on-1 breakaway to pull within 3-1.
- Sophomore Will Pray (Prague, Czech Republic) worked the puck free along the end boards to E. Stuckless, who found Patton alone in the slot for a one-timer to the back of the net as the lead grew to 4-1 nine minutes into the second period.
- The Lancers answered back 2:18 later when a skater dashed in on a breakaway. The initial shot was blocked, but a Worcester State player banged home the rebound.
- Junior Brandon Shantz (San Antonio, Texas) made a big save on a breakaway during a Worcester State power play late in the period to preserve the two-goal lead.
- In a near exact replay of the Panthers' second goal, Patton won another draw to E. Stuckless in the zone 2:43 into the third period, and for the second time E. Stuckless sniped a shot inside the post to make it 5-2.
- Patton notched his second of the night with 7:18 left in the final stanza and Moretti notched his second of the game less than a minute later as the advantage ballooned to 7-2.
- Junior Will Redick (Collingwood, Ontario) capped the scoring with a power play goal with 3:04 left to play.
By the Numbers:
- Patton and E. Stuckless finished with two goals and two assists apiece.
- Moretti added two goals.
- Pray and Hale finished with two assists each.
- Howat's tally was the first of his career, while Hale also registered his first collegiate points.
- Shantz made 12 saves in the win.
- Patton won 15-of-24 faceoffs on the night.
- PSU went 1-for-4 on the power play, while holding the Lancers scoreless in two chances.
- The Panthers finished with a 54-14 advantage in shots on goal.
- PSU improves to 61-11-5 against the Lancers. Plymouth State is unbeaten in the last 16 meetings (15-0-1).
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hosts Framingham State in another MASCAC contest on Thursday (Nov. 21) at 6:00 p.m.
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