DANBURY, Conn. – Senior Will Redick (Collingwood, Ontario) had a hand in all four goals as Plymouth State University held off Western Connecticut State University, 4-3, in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's ice hockey game at Danbury Ice Arena on Friday evening.
 
The Wolves jumped out to a lead in the opening minute, but senior Payton Schaly (Orillia, Ontario) evened the game at the four-minute mark. Redick followed with his first goal of the evening, but WestConn responded to send the game into intermission deadlocked at 2-2.
 
Freshman Tucker Shedd (Holt, Mich.) restored the Plymouth State lead with the lone goal of the second period, before Redick added an insurance tally just 36 seconds into the third period, a goal that would prove important, as the Wolves went to the extra skater during a power play with just over two minutes remaining.
 
WestConn was able to convert with the two-skater advantage to make it a one-goal game, but junior Connor Strobel (Butler, Pa.) made a key stop in the final seconds to deny the comeback attempt.
 
Plymouth State improves to 10-8-1 (7-4-1 LEC), while WestConn falls to 1-18-0 (0-12-0 LEC).
 
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 4, WestConn 3
  • Plymouth State (10-8-1, 7-4-1 LEC)
  • WestConn (1-18-0, 0-12-0 LEC)

How it Happened:

• The Wolves took the lead in the first minute with a wrister from the right side during a 2-on-1 break.
• WestConn's clearance attempt went off a skate and the puck ended up on Schaly's stick a few minutes later. He skated to the high slot and beat the goalie to the stick side to even the score at the 4:06 mark.
• The Panthers went in front on Redick's shot from the point during a power play three minutes later.
• WestConn tied it when some nifty passing during a 3-on-1 led to an open shot at the right post midway through the first.
• Things would slow down from there as the game remained tied at 2-2 into the second period.
• Shedd restored the Panthers' advantage when he blasted a one-timer from the right faceoff dot during a power play halfway through the second.
• PSU made it a two-goal game when the Wolves turned it over in the zone and Schaly found Redick at the bottom of the right circle just 36 seconds into the final stanza.
• WestConn opted for the extra skater during a power play with more than two minutes left and the Wolves pulled to within 4-3 with a one-timer in the slot with 1:58 remaining.
• Strobel came up with a key stop in the closing seconds as the Panthers held on for the win.

By the Numbers:

• After his eight-game goal-scoring streak was snapped last weekend, Schaly responded with a goal and two assists. He has 10 goals and five assists in 10 games since Thanksgiving break.
• Redick moved into the team lead with 12 goals and 28 points. He has at least one point over each of the last seven games, totaling 12 points in that span.
• Shedd notched his fourth goal of the season.
• Strobel finished with 32 saves.
• Plymouth State was 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Wolves were 1-for-4.
• The Panthers owned a 44-35 shot advantage.
• The victory secured a sweep of the season series for the Panthers.

  
Up Next:

• The Panthers travel to Keene State for a 5 p.m. matchup with the Owls on Saturday (Jan. 31).