PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Plymouth State University scored three second-period goals, and senior
David Matousek (Karlovy Vary, Czechia) found the back of the net for the second straight night as the Panthers held off SUNY Plattsburgh, 4-3, in a non-conference men's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Saturday afternoon.
The Cardinals scored on a power play late in the opening period, but Plymouth State responded with three straight goals in the middle frame to take control. Matousek tied the game at 1-1 just over five minutes into the period before junior
William Jasmin (Saint-Clet, Québec) put the Panthers ahead less than three minutes later. Graduate student
Lucas Jones (Calgary, Alberta) extended the lead to 3-1, but Plattsburgh State scored late in the period to pull within one heading into the third.
Senior
Severi Sulonen (Turku, Finland) restored the two-goal cushion in the opening five minutes of the third period. The Cardinals applied steady pressure down the stretch and scored with 7:37 remaining, but senior goaltender
Connor Strobel (Butler, Pa.) and the Plymouth State defense held on to secure the victory.
Plymouth State improves to 2-0-0, while Plattsburgh State falls to 1-1-0.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, Plattsburgh State 3
- Plymouth State (2-0-0)
- Plattsburgh State (1-1-0)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers had a prime scoring opportunity late in the first period on a 2-on-1 break, but the puck skipped over a stick at the near post.
- Plattsburgh State scored on a late power play to carry a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
- Matousek took a feed from senior Ronan Walsh (Andover, N.H.) on a breakaway before beating the Cardinal goaltender stick side to tie the game 5:25 into the second period.
- Jasmin stuffed home a rebound less than three minutes later to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead.
- Jones extended the advantage to 3-1 with 5:18 remaining in the period, rifling a wrist shot from the blue line through traffic and into the net.
- The Cardinals pulled within 3-2 on a shot from the left circle that slipped inside the near post, sending the teams into the third period separated by just one goal.
- Sulonen and senior Patrick O'Connell (West Chester, Pa.) worked a give-and-go on the right side before Sulonen went top shelf to make it 4-2 early in the third period.
- The Cardinals scored in the closing seconds of a power play with 7:37 remaining to cut the deficit to 4-3, but Strobel and the PSU defense held on for the win.
By the Numbers:
- O'Connell finished with three assists.
- Matousek scored for the second straight night.
- Jones recorded a goal and an assist.
- Jasmin scored his first goal as a Panther against his former team.
- Strobel finished with 30 saves.
- Plymouth State improves to 3-2-1 in the all-time series and 2-0-1 at home against the Cardinals.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State opens Little East Conference (LEC) play next weekend as No. 10 Norwich University visits Hanaway Rink for the annual Salute the Troops game on Friday (Nov. 6) at 5 p.m.
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