PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Teagan Wilson (Salisbury, Mass.) made 15 saves as Plymouth State University blanked Salem State University, 2-0, in the women's ice hockey season opener at Hanaway Rink on Friday afternoon.
The game remained scoreless late into the second period, but freshman
Sofia Cuozzo (Guilford, Conn.) sniped a wrist shot past the Salem State goalie with 2:17 remaining to open the scoring. Junior
Laura Castronova (Hauppauge, N.Y.) added an insurance goal roughly five minutes into the third, and Wilson made a dozen saves over the final 40 minutes to seal the victory.
Plymouth State starts the year 1-0-0, while the Vikings fall to 0-1-0.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Salem State 0
- Plymouth State (1-0-0)
- Salem State (0-1-0)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers were unable to cash in on the game's first power play opportunity early in the opening period.
- Salem State had a pair of power plays midway through the frame, but PSU's penalty kill held strong.
- Freshman Claire Deis (Calgary, Alberta) put a puck on net for junior Juliet Rutigliano (Martinsville, N.J.) during a power play with a minute left in the first, but the Vikings' goalie covered it up as the game remained scoreless into intermission.
- Salem State came out strong to open the second, applying heavy pressure and creating multiple chances, but Wilson made a flurry of challenging saves to keep the game scoreless.
- The Panthers responded in kind, building consistent zone time over the next several minutes. Junior Erika Johnson (Salt Lake City, Utah) nearly broke the deadlock when she ripped a close-range wrister from the near side, but the Salem State goalie made the stop.
- Wilson came up with a huge blocker save, then recovered to stonewall a rebound bid late in the second.
- Cuozzo made a move around a defender and rifled a shot under the goalie's stick with 2:17 on the clock to give PSU a 1-0 lead after two.
- Castronova nearly doubled the lead in the opening minute of the third on a one-timer from the slot. The Vikings countered with a prime opportunity, but Wilson made a kick save and covered up the loose puck.
- Junior Emily Gerrie (Littleton, Colo.) centered the puck after a ricochet off the end boards, where Castronova stuffed it in to make it 2-0 at the 4:48 mark of the third.
- Freshman Olivia Robbins (Poolesville, Md.) nearly made it 3-0 midway through the period, but her bid to the top left corner hit the post. The two-goal lead was plenty as Wilson closed out the shutout.
By the Numbers:
- Wilson finished with 15 saves to post her fourth career shutout.
- Cuozzo's tally was her first collegiate goal, while Castronova potted her 18th career marker.
- Gerrie, Johnson and junior Jamie Steinmetz (Madison, Wis.) all recorded assists.
- Plymouth State held a 22-15 advantage in shots.
- Both teams finished 0-for-4 on the power play.
- The all-time series has been remarkably close, with PSU holding a narrow 8-6-3 edge. Six of the games have gone to overtime.
Up Next:
- The weekend series concludes Saturday (Nov. 1) when the teams meet in Salem for a 6 p.m. contest.
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