(Courtesy of Plymouth State Sports Information)

Huskies Return Home to Face Nichols on Saturday

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior Emily Auby (Stoughton, Wis.) scored the game-winning goal with two minutes and 50 seconds left in the third period and Plymouth State University went on to a 3-1 victory over the University of Southern Maine in a women's New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) game Friday evening at Hanaway Rink.

            Sophomore Shannon Hickey (Arlington, Mass.) added an insurance goal with 15 seconds remaining as PSU stopped a seven-game skid and improved to 7-13 overall and 3-9 in conference play. Freshman goalie Emelie Lindqvist (Gullerason, Sweden) made 23 saves on 24 shots to earn the win and even her record at 6-6.

            The Huskies got a second-period goal from senior Cassandra Sherman (North Smithfield, R.I.) and 29 saves from freshman goalie Britney Evangelista (North Smithfield, R.I.), but dropped to 2-15-2 overall and 1-9-2 in the NEHC.

            Sherman broke a scoreless tie for USM two minutes into the second period, collecting a loose puck after a blocked shot by freshman Tawni Mohler (McCall, Idaho) and potted the rebound for her sixth goal of the season.

            PSU got the equalizer with six and a half minutes to go in the middle frame as senior Marisa Zamrock (Lewiston, Maine) converted a crossing pass in front after some digging along the boards by junior Lauren Connelly (Braintree, Mass.) and freshman MacKenzie Kennedy (Brea, Calif.).

            With the score still tied 1-1 in the third period and overtime looming, PSU pulled ahead on Auby's goal with less than three minutes remaining.  Sophomore Alivia Bates (Pennsauken, N.J.) set up the play with a strong drive to the net against the USM defense, and Auby collected a loose puck and fired it past the screened goaltender.

            Hickey's insurance goal in the final minute came after Evangelista made point-blank range saves against Auby and junior Haley Branovan (Canandaigua, N.Y.).

            Both teams play NEHC games on Saturday as PSU travels to nationally-ranked Castleton University (4:00 p.m.) and Southern Maine returns home to host Nichols College (1:00 p.m.).

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