CASTLETON, Vt. – Plymouth State University raced out to a 2-0, first period lead, but Vermont State University Castleton rallied with three unanswered goals to sneak past the Panthers, 3-2, in non-conference women's ice hockey action at Spartan Arena on Wednesday evening.
Sophomore
Laura Castronova (Hauppauge, N.Y.) scored her third goal of the young season just 23 seconds into the game and graduate student
Lauren McNeil (Ottawa, Ontario) doubled the lead later in the frame. The Spartans rallied with a pair of goals in the middle stanza to pull even, before completing the comeback early in the third. PSU put heavy pressure on the VTSU Castleton defense in the final minutes but was unable to come away with the equalizer.
Plymouth State evens out at 2-2-0, while the Spartans start their year at 1-0-0.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, VTSU Castleton 3
- Plymouth State (2-2-0)
- VTSU Castleton (1-0-0)
How it Happened:
- For the second straight night the Panthers got out to a hot start, this time needing less than 30 seconds to open the scoring. Senior Emily DeSimone (Norwood, Mass.) cruised down the left side on a 2-on-1 break before sending a pass to Castronova in front. Castronova redirected the puck just inside the right post to give PSU the lead just 23 seconds into the period.
- McNeil kept the puck in at the blue line and skated to the bottom of the left circle, where she whipped a wrist shot past the screened VTSU Castleton goalie to make it 2-0 with 6:10 left in the frame.
- The hosts cut the margin in half early in the second period.
- The Spartans pulled even with 2:28 left in the frame after intercepting a pass in the neutral zone and scoring on a 1-on-0 breakaway.
- VTSU Castleton took the lead 5:13 into the third period when a clearance attempt was knocked down at the blue line leading to another 1-on-0 breakaway.
- Plymouth State attempted to rally, blasting ten shots in the final eight minutes, but the Spartans came up with six saves and three blocks to hold on for the win.
By the Numbers:
- Castronova has nearly reached her season total in goals from last year (four) in the first week of the season.
- McNeil's tally was her first of the year and fifth of her career.
- Sophomore Teagan Wilson (Salisbury, Mass.) made 31 saves in the losing effort.
- DeSimone won 11-of-18 faceoffs.
- The Spartans held a 34-27 edge in shots.
- The two programs split last year's season series, with each team winning on its opponent's home ice.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits Worcester State next Tuesday (Nov. 12) for the MASCAC opener against the Lancers. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m.
– 30 –
