PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Graduate student
Lauren McNeil (Ottawa, Ontario) scored the game's lone goal with less than three minutes remaining and sophomore
Karlee Lehner (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) made 18 saves to set the program record for shutouts in a season as Plymouth State University blanked Worcester State University, 1-0, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Saturday afternoon.
The matchup between the two teams deadlocked atop the MASCAC standings did not disappoint. Action went up-and-down the ice throughout, with both goalies making big saves. Plymouth State's penalty kill was exceptional, holding the Lancers scoreless in five chances to set up McNeil's heroics.
With the game looking destined for overtime, McNeil kept the puck in the zone at the blue line and got past the Worcester State defense before skating through the slot and stuffing a backhanded shot inside the far post with just under three minutes to play.
Lehner, who set the program record for shutouts in a season with her fifth shutout of the year, also set the record for goalie wins in a season, improving to 10-2-0.
Plymouth State was playing in a Morgan's Message game. Morgan's Message aims to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics.
Plymouth State moves to 12-6-1 (8-1-1 MASCAC), while the Lancers are 9-9-1 (6-3-1 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, Worcester State 0
- Plymouth State (12-6-1, 8-1-1 MASCAC)
- Worcester State (9-9-1, 6-3-1 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers put heavy pressure on the Worcester State defense at the six-minute mark. Sophomore Lilli Warnock (Bernardsville, N.J.) was denied on her backhanded bid and again on her rebound chance, and PSU had multiple other shots during the shift, but the Lancers' goaltender was up to the challenge.
- Worcester State had a pair of power play chances, but Lehner and the PSU defense were solid on the penalty kill, which included a key blocked shot by senior Katie Maloney (Calgary, Alberta), as the game went into the first intermission deadlocked at 0-0.
- Plymouth State opened the second in attack mode. Sophomore Laura Castronova (Hauppauge, N.Y.) had a redirect drift just over the cross bar and classmate Emily Gerrie (Littleton, Colo.) attempted to go five-hole, but the Lancers escaped.
- The Lancers came in on a breakout chance four minutes into the stanza, but Lehner bodied down the shot and covered up.
- Action went back-and-forth during the remainder of the second, but neither team was able to light the lamp as the game remained scoreless into the third.
- The opening ten minutes of the third featured more up-and-down action, with neither team giving an inch.
- McNeil used a strong individual effort to net the game's first goal. After keeping the puck in at the blue line, she skated through the defense and tucked a backhanded shot past the goalie to make it 1-0 with just under three minutes left to play.
- The Lancers opted for the extra skater with 2:03 left on the clock. Worcester State was called for a hand pass, setting up a faceoff in its defensive zone and forcing the goalie back between the pipes with 23 seconds to go, and PSU kept the puck in the zone to seal the win.
By the Numbers:
- McNeil's goal was her third of the year, matching a career best. Her 12 points are tied for second on the team.
- Lehner moved past Emelie Lindqvist to set both the shutouts and wins records.
- PSU extended its program record for wins.
- Worcester State went 0-for-5 on the power play, while PSU was 0-for-1.
- The Panthers held a 26-18 edge in shots.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series, 2-1. All three games have been decided by a single goal. PSU eked out a 4-3 overtime win in November, while the Lancers held on for a 3-2 win in Oct. of 2022.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State remains home to host Keene State in non-conference action on Tuesday (Feb. 4) at 4:00 p.m.
– 30 –
