BIDDEFORD, Maine – Sophomore
Teagan Wilson (Salisbury, Mass.) made 35 saves, but the University of New England eked past Plymouth State University, 1-0, in a non-conference women's ice hockey game at the Harold Alfond Forum on Saturday evening.
The teams played an even first period, but UNE controlled play in the middle stanza. The Nor'easters outshot PSU by a 16-1 margin, but Wilson was spectacular allowing just the one goal.
Play evened out again in the third and the Panthers had a pair of power play chances to pull even, including 22 seconds of 5-on-3 action, but the hosts were able to kill off the penalties. PSU made one final push with the extra skater on for the final minute, but the UNE goaltender made a pair of saves and the defense blocked a shot as the Nor'easters held on for the win.
PSU moves to 7-5-0, while UNE goes to 6-7-0.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, UNE 1
- Plymouth State (7-5-0)
- UNE (6-7-0)
How it Happened:
- Play went back and forth in the first period, though neither team was able to break through. The Panthers had a power play chance midway through the frame but came up empty.
- The ice tilted in UNE's favor in the middle stanza, as the hosts peppered Wilson with 16 shots. Wilson was strong between the pipes, allowing just the one goal, as the score stayed 1-0 heading into the third period.
- UNE opened the third period with a flurry, but Wilson made three saves and seniors Emily DeSimone (Norwood, Mass.) and Brenna Smith (Medfield, Mass.) each blocked a shot to keep the deficit at one.
- The ice tilted in PSU's favor midway through the frame. Back-to-back UNE penalties allowed the Panthers to build up zone time and forced the Nor'easters' goaltender into some difficult saves, but the puck wouldn't find the back of the net.
- Still facing a one-goal deficit, PSU opted for the extra skater over the final minute of action, but the Panthers were unable to sneak one in as the game ended in a 1-0 setback.
By the Numbers:
- Junior Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.), senior Emily Biggin (Didsbury, Alberta) and graduate student Lauren McNeil (Ottawa, Ontario) led the Panthers with three shots apiece.
- Wilson finished with a season-high 35 saves. Her .972 save percentage for the game was the second highest of her career, trailing only a 45-save shutout at VTSU Castleton last January.
- UNE owned a 36-16 advantage in shots.
- Neither team was successful on the power play. Plymouth State finished 0-for-3, while the Nor'easters were 0-for-1.
- The hosts registered 12 blocked shots.
- DeSimone won 11-of-16 faceoffs, while the Panthers went 27-22 on the draw as a team.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State returns home to face Anna Maria in MASCAC action on Tuesday (Jan. 14). Puck drop is set for 4:00 p.m. at Hanaway Rink.
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