HENNIKER, N.H. – Junior
Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) notched a goal and an assist, and sophomore
Karlee Lehner (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) made 17 saves as Plymouth State University held off New England College, 3-2, in a non-conference women's ice hockey game at Lee Clement Arena on Tuesday night.
Plymouth State scored twice in the first ten minutes and the Panthers never trailed, though twice NEC was able to cut the margin to one. The Pilgrims scored the lone goal of the second period, but sophomore
Emma Lemery (Queensbury, N.Y.) buried a power play goal late in the third to provide some much-needed insurance. NEC would score again to pull within 3-2 with 2:26 left to play, but Lehner and the Panthers' defense held strong to secure the win.
Plymouth State jumps to 2-1-0, while the Pilgrims slip to 0-3-0.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, NEC 2
- Plymouth State (2-1-0)
- NEC (0-3-0)
How it Happened:
- Junior Caeli Reed (Norwood, Mass.) fired a shot from the right side early in a PSU power play and Porrello banged home the rebound during an abbreviated power play to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead 6:28 into the first.
- Graduate student Lauren McNeil (Ottawa, Ontario) blasted a one-timer from the left side that handcuffed NEC goalie and junior Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) was there to clean up the rebound to make it 2-0 just 2:35 later.
- The Pilgrims cut into the deficit with the lone goal of the middle stanza.
- Things remained tight through the third period until Porrello found Lemery in the high slot during a power play with just over three minutes to play. Lemery's one-timer found the top left corner to give PSU an insurance goal for a 3-1 lead.
- The goal proved especially important, as the Pilgrims answered back just 44 seconds later.
- Senior Emily Biggin (Didsbury, Alberta) was robbed by the NEC goalie during a breakaway with two minutes left in regulation.
- Plymouth State was able to keep the puck in the offensive zone as the clock wound down. The Pilgrims were finally able to clear the puck to add the extra skater for the final 18 seconds, but Lehner made two huge saves in the waning seconds to preserve the win.
By the Numbers:
- Porrello and Lemery each tallied their first goals of the season, while Cunningham's marker was her second of the year.
- Lehner finished with 17 saves.
- Plymouth State set the tone early, outshooting the Pilgrims by a 12-4 margin in the first period alone. The Panthers would finish with a 31-19 advantage in shots for the game.
- PSU went 2-of-3 on the power play, while the Pilgrims were scoreless in four chances.
Up Next:
- The Panthers travel to VTSU Castleton for a non-conference game on Wednesday (Nov. 6) with puck drop set for 6:00 p.m.
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