KEENE, N.H. – Junior
Grace Bonnell (Madison, Wis.) scored the game-winning goal 1:34 into overtime as Plymouth State University secured its first-ever Little East Conference (LEC) win, 4-3, over Keene State College in women's ice hockey action at Keene Ice on Friday afternoon.
In a physical battle, Plymouth State overcame an Owls hat trick as senior
Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) tied the game with 6:39 remaining in the third period to set up Bonnell's overtime heroics.
After a scoreless opening frame, juniors
Emily Gerrie (Littleton, Colo.) and
Jamie Steinmetz (Madison, Wis.) scored power-play goals to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead heading into the second intermission.
The Owls pulled even on a penalty-shot goal, then jumped in front just over a minute later, but Porrello answered right back with a deflection goal to force the extra session.
In overtime, freshman
Lisi Palmer (Brunswick, Maine) made a great defensive play to break up a scoring chance, then hit Bonnell in stride with a long pass, and Bonnell converted the breakout opportunity to seal the Panthers' first conference win of the season.
Plymouth State improves to 5-6-0 (1-6-0 LEC), while Keene State goes to 5-8-0 (2-5-0 LEC). The two teams meet again on Saturday (Jan. 10) to complete the weekend series.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, Keene State 3 (OT)
- Plymouth State (5-6-0, 1-6-0 LEC)
- Keene State (5-8-0, 2-5-0 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State dominated the opening period, outshooting the Owls by a lopsided 17-5 margin, but neither team was able to break through.
- The Owls got on the board 2:38 into the second to take a 1-0 lead.
- Plymouth State pulled even during a 5-on-3 with 8:12 left in the period when freshman Maddie Wiggins (Loveland, Colo.) pushed a pass through the slot where Gerrie banged it home at the post.
- The Panthers jumped into the lead with another power-play strike in the closing minute of the frame when Steinmetz snapped a wrister from the blue line that got through traffic to make it 2-1.
- Keene State tied the game on a penalty shot with 7:07 left in regulation, then completed the hat trick 1:27 later to take a 3-2 lead.
- Porrello answered right back just 28 seconds later, redirecting Wiggins' deep shot past the KSC goaltender to make it 3-3.
- Gerrie nearly won it in the opening seconds of overtime, but the Owls' goalie got a piece of her close-range shot to send the puck wide.
- Palmer broke up a breakout chance and skated through the defensive zone before sending a long pass to Bonnell on the right side. Bonnell skated into the circle and tucked a wrister inside the near post to secure the win.
By the Numbers:
- Four different Panthers recorded multi-point games. Porrello and Bonnell notched a goal and an assist apiece, while Wiggins and Palmer both recorded two assists.
- Porrello, Bonnell and Gerrie lead the team with seven points apiece. Porrello's goal was her team-leading fourth of the season.
- Junior Teagan Wilson (Salisbury, Mass.) made 18 saves before giving way to classmate Karlee Lehner (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) for the final 8:41. Lehner made three stops.
- Plymouth State held a 40-24 shots advantage.
- The Panthers went 2-for-8 on the power play, while holding Keene State scoreless in three chances.
- Plymouth State now leads the series, 3-2. The last four games have been decided by a single goal.
Up Next:
- The teams meet again tomorrow with a 1:30 p.m. puck drop at Keene Ice.
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