PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Emily Gerrie (Littleton, Colo.) and senior
Jacqueline Martin (Smithfield, R.I.) scored to give Plymouth State University a lead, but the University of Southern Maine responded with three unanswered goals in the third period to rally past the Panthers, 4-2, in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Saturday afternoon.
The Huskies opened the scoring just 16 seconds into the game. Gerrie's power-play goal tied the score late in the first period, and Martin gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead late in the second. Southern Maine responded in the third period, tying the game at 7:16 before taking the lead with four minutes remaining. An empty-net goal sealed the victory for the visitors.
Prior to the game, Plymouth State honored its senior class for their contributions to the program:
Caeli Reed (Norwood, Mass.),
Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.),
Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.),
Alanna Hoag (Clinton, Mass.), and Martin.
Plymouth State slips to 12-11-0 (6-10-0 LEC), while the Huskies improve to 9-13-1 (8-7-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Southern Maine 4
- Plymouth State (12-11-0, 6-10-0 LEC)
- Southern Maine (9-13-1, 8-7-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Southern Maine scored on a rebound just 16 seconds into the game.
- Junior Grace Bonnell (Madison, Wis.) fired a shot from inside the right circle during a power play late in the period. Freshman Lisi Palmer (Brunswick, Maine) poked the rebound to Gerrie, who slid it into the open net to tie the game with 5:47 left in the first.
- Martin gave PSU a 2-1 lead with 2:23 left in the second period when her pass through the crease deflected off a defender's skate and into the goal.
- Plymouth State maintained the one-goal lead into the third period.
- USM pulled even at the 7:16 mark of the third on a deflection off a 3-on-2 break.
- The Huskies went back in front with 3:59 to play. The visitors played the puck up the left side for a breakout chance, firing a wrister from the left circle.
- Southern Maine sealed the win with an empty-net tally with 1:32 remaining.
By the Numbers:
- Martin added two blocked shots to her goal.
- Gerrie's sixth goal ties her for second-most on the team.
- Palmer notched two assists, giving her 10 on the year.
- Plymouth State finished 1-for-4 on the power play. PSU's penalty kill unit held the Huskies scoreless in six chances.
- USM held a 35-24 shot advantage.
- Junior Karlee Lehner (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) made 31 saves.
- Porrello won 16-of-24 faceoffs (66.7%).
Up Next:
- Plymouth State closes out the regular season with a weekend series at No. 3 Norwich starting Friday (Feb. 20) at 6 p.m.
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