CANTON, Mass. – Junior
Karlee Lehner (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) matched a personal best with 51 saves, and junior
Laura Castronova (Hauppauge, N.Y.) scored the game-winning goal with less than two minutes remaining as Plymouth State University edged Curry College, 4-3, in non-conference women's ice hockey action at Canton Ice House on Saturday afternoon.
In a back-and-forth battle, senior
Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) gave the Panthers the lead late in the first period, though Curry answered just one minute later to send the teams into the first intermission tied at 1-1.
Freshman
Lisi Palmer (Brunswick, Maine) tallied her first collegiate goal midway through the second – scoring short-handed – only to see the Colonels respond again exactly one minute later with a power play goal to pull even.
Curry took its first lead in the opening minute of the third, but freshman
Olivia Robbins (Poolesville, Md.) tied the game midway through the frame with her first career goal, setting the stage for Castronova's late-game heroics.
Plymouth State improves to 4-6-0, while Curry stands at 5-4-1.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, Curry 3
- Plymouth State (4-6-0)
- Curry (5-4-1)
How it Happened:
- Porrello opened the scoring when her turnaround shot from the right side slipped through traffic to make it 1-0 with 4:28 left in the first.
- Curry answered one minute later to send the game into the first intermission tied at 1-1.
- Palmer restored the lead with a strong individual effort on the penalty kill midway through the second. After breaking up a pass at the blue line, she skated past the defense for a breakaway and beat the Curry goalie stick-side.
- The Colonels responded exactly one minute later, converting on the same power play opportunity to make it 2-2.
- Curry took a 3-2 lead in the opening minute of the third.
- Robbins tied the game on the power play with 11:55 left in regulation. Freshman Maddie Wiggins (Loveland, Colo.) found her on the left side, and Robbins lifted a shot into the top-left corner on her first collegiate goal.
- Castronova netted the game-winner with 1:42 remaining, slipping a shot from the right circle through the five-hole.
By the Numbers:
- Lehner's 51 saves matched her career high, previously set at Northland College during the 2023-24 season. It was her highest save total in a PSU sweater.
- Palmer and Robbins each recorded their first career goals.
- Castronova and Porrello each notched their third goals of the season. Porrello added an assist for a two-point outing.
- Juniors Grace Bonnell (Madison, Wis.) and Emily Gerrie (Littleton, Colo.), and Wiggins also recorded assists.
- Curry held a 54-24 advantage in shots on goal.
- PSU went 1-for-2 on the power play, while the Colonels were 1-for-3.
- This was just the fourth meeting between the programs. PSU leads the series 3-1 and has won the last three matchups.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State breaks for final exams and the holiday recess before returning to action on Jan. 9 for a weekend series at Keene State.
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