AUBURN, Mass. – Junior
Will Redick (Collingwood, Ontario) scored twice, including his 50th career goal, but Anna Maria College raced out to an early lead, then held off Plymouth State University late, 4-2, in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey action at Horgan Arena on Thursday evening.
In a matchup of the top two teams in the league, the AMCATS used strong special teams play to grab a 3-0 lead in the first period, aided by a pair of power play goals. The hosts carried the advantage through the second period, before Redick broke through.
The forward lit the lamp at the seven-minute mark, but Anna Maria countered with a third power play goal less than three minutes later. Redick scored his 50th career goal with 8:44 to play and PSU went on the power play minutes later, but the Anna Maria goaltender came up with three big stops to keep the Panthers from clawing back any closer.
Anna Maria has been a thorn in the side of the Panthers, winning each of the last three meetings – all at Horgan Arena.
PSU dips to 12-5-0 (9-1-0 MASCAC), while the AMCATS jump to 11-5-0 and 7-2-0 in league play. Plymouth State maintains a four-point lead in the MASCAC standings, though the Panthers have played one more league game than second-place Anna Maria.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Anna Maria 4
- Plymouth State (12-5-0, 9-1-0 MASCAC)
- Anna Maria (11-5-0, 7-2-0 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- Anna Maria set an early tone, forcing junior Brandon Shantz (San Antonio, Texas) into a pair of saves in the opening minute.
- The hosts got on the scoreboard with a power play tally at the 5:41 mark, then doubled the lead just over two minutes later.
- The AMCATS took advantage of another power play chance late in the period to take a 3-0 lead after one.
- Both goaltenders were strong in the middle stanza as the score remained 3-0 heading into the second intermission.
- Redick got the Panthers on the board 6:57 into the third as PSU attempted to rally.
- Anna Maria responded with a third power play tally less than three minutes later to make it 4-1.
- Redick converted again with 8:44 left on the clock and Plymouth State had momentum as the Panthers went on the power play just two minutes later, but the AMCATS penalty kill blocked two shots while the goalie made three saves to retain the lead.
- PSU went empty net for the final 2:20, but stingy goalkeeping kept the Panthers from cutting further into the deficit.
By the Numbers:
- Redick posted his third multi-goal game of the season, including the 50th of his career, moving into a tie for eighth on the all-time list.
- With four more points, Redick will move into sole possession of third place on PSU's all-time career points leaders.
- Sophomore Severi Sulonen (Turku, Finland), juniors Brendan Doyle (Stratham, N.H.) and Payton Schaly (Orillia, Ontario) and freshman Luca Rea (Burlington, Ontario) all registered assists.
- Shantz finished with 39 saves.
- The two teams evenly split 74 faceoffs. Senior Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) won 14-of-25 to lead the Panthers.
- PSU held a slight edge in shots, 44-43.
- Plymouth State owns a 5-3-1 mark against the AMCATS, though Anna Maria has won each of the last three meetings.
Up Next:
- The Panthers head to Framingham State for a conference clash with the Rams on Saturday (Jan. 25) with puck drop set for 7:40 p.m.
– 30 –
