PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Lauren McNeil (Ottawa, Ontario) gave Plymouth State University an early lead, but William Smith College used a three-goal second period to deny Plymouth State University, 4-1, in a New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) women's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Saturday afternoon.
Plymouth State ends the regular season with a 6-17-0 mark (6-12-0 NEHC) and earns the seventh seed for next week's NEHC Tournament. The Panthers will travel to second-seeded Elmira College for a quarterfinal game next Saturday (Feb. 17) at 3:00 p.m.
The Panthers' six conference wins are the most since the 2017-18 season, while PSU returns to the NEHC postseason following a one-year hiatus.
Prior to puck drop, Plymouth State honored its senior class in a brief pregame ceremony; McNeil,
Amelia Julian (Apple Valley, Minn.),
Abigale McGee (Bozeman, Mont.),
Katie Maloney (Calgary, Alberta),
Isabella Borbridge (Calgary, Alberta),
Mia Zaniboni (Braintree, Mass.),
Marissa Pickman (Bradford, N.H.),
Sophie Streed (Surry, N.H.) and
Carsen Moffett (Kamloops, British Columbia).
William Smith moves to 16-8-1 (11-6-1 NEHC) to secure the third seed for the tournament.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, William Smith 4
- Plymouth State (6-19-0, 6-12-0 NEHC)
- William Smith (16-8-1, 11-6-1 NEHC)
How it Happened:
- McNeil gave the Panthers the lead at the 7:18 mark of the first on a strong individual effort. She received a pass at the defensive blue line, skated through the neutral zone, past a pair of defenders and snuck a shot inside the post to make it 1-0.
- William Smith tied the score with a power play goal late in the period when a low angle shot slid past Julian.
- The Herons went ahead with 7:54 left in the second when a skater corralled a bouncing puck in the defensive zone and burst up the left side before stuffing the puck into the net.
- The visitors pushed the margin to 3-1 with 3:20 left in the period when the puck was kept in at the blue line and put on net. A Herons' skater turned and fired from the low slot for the goal.
- William Smith tacked on an insurance goal two minutes later on a one-timer from the right circle.
- Plymouth State turned up the pressure in the third period, forcing the Herons' goaltender into ten saves, but PSU was unable to get any closer.
By the Numbers:
- McNeil's goal was her first second in her last four games.
- Sophomores Jacqueline Martin (Smithfield, R.I.) and Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) picked up the assists.
- Julian finished with 31 saves, surpassing the 30-save threshold for the 12th time this season and for her fifth straight game.
- William Smith held a 35-17 advantage in shots.
- PSU went 0-for-3 on the power play, while the Herons were 1-of-3.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State secures the seventh seed for the NEHC Tournament and will visit second-seeded Elmira College for a quarterfinal game next Saturday (Feb. 17). Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m.
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