PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Josh Kagan (Winnipeg, Manitoba) scored in the opening three minutes to set an early tone as Plymouth State University blanked Anna Maria College, 5-0, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Saturday night.
With the win, Plymouth State captures its eighth-straight regular season title and will own the top seed for the upcoming MASCAC Tournament. PSU will host eighth-seeded MCLA in a quarterfinal game on Thursday (Feb. 27) at 6:00 p.m.
Kagan knocked in the rebound of his own shot just 2:31 into the first and that was all the Panthers would need. Junior
Brandon Shantz (San Antonio, Texas) was outstanding between the pipes, recording 26 saves for his third shutout of the year.
Prior to the game, Plymouth State honored senior
Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland), who became the 18th player to reach the 100-career point milestone as a Panther. The team's seniors were also recognized as part of the annual
Senior Night game in appreciation of their contributions to the program: Stuckless, Kagan,
Connor Tait (Boyds, Md.),
Dante Moretti (Columbus, Ohio),
Donte' DiPonio (Trenton, Mich.),
Cam Patton (Bible Hill, Nova Scotia),
Jameson Bourque (Weare, N.H.) and
Brady Morrison (Chilliwack, British Columbia).
Plymouth State jumps to 19-6-0 (16-2-0 MASCAC), while the AMCATS slip to 18-7-0 and 14-4-0 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 5, Anna Maria 0
- Plymouth State (19-6-0, 16-2-0 MASCAC)
- Anna Maria (18-7-0, 14-4-0 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- Kagan gave the Panthers an early lead when he stuffed home the rebound of his own shot just 2:31 into the contest.
- Plymouth State doubled the margin with 2:19 left in the first when Stuckless redirected a shot off the stick of junior Rider McCallum (Langley, British Columbia) and PSU would carry the lead into the intermission.
- Shantz laid out to make a key stop two minutes into the second. Junior Brendan Doyle (Stratham, N.H.) got to the loose puck and sent a stretch pass to freshman Matt Hale (Center Harbor, N.H.), who deked the goalie and tucked a backhanded shot into the open net to extend the margin to 3-0.
- Sophomore Andrew Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) forced a turnover in the offensive zone before setting up Doyle in the crease to push the lead to 4-0 with 3:19 left in the period and PSU maintained the comfortable lead into the final period.
- The AMCATS' best chance came six minutes into the third period when traffic in front gave the visitors a pair of rebound chances, but Shantz kicked aside the initial shot then sprawled to his right to deny the follow up chance.
- Sophomore David Matousek (Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic) snagged the puck in the defensive zone and went end-to-end, whipping a wrist shot over the goalie's right shoulder with 4:39 left to play to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- E. Stuckless' goal was his leading 15th of the season.
- Doyle reached the 20-point threshold on the year with his goal and assist.
- Kagan's game-winner was his first marker of the season.
- A. Stuckless won 10-of-13 faceoffs.
- Plymouth State held a 35-26 edge in shots.
- The regular season title was Plymouth State's 12th in its 14 seasons in the MASCAC.
- PSU leads the all-time series, 6-3-1, though the AMCATS had won each of the previous three matchups.
Up Next:
- The MASCAC Tournament opens with quarterfinal action on Thursday (Feb. 27). Top-seeded Plymouth State will host eighth-seeded MCLA at 6:00 p.m. at Hanaway Rink.
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