Ice Hockey on a Roll, 2-0

COURTESY PHOTO OF PSU ATHLETICS

The weather is changing and it’s time for our winter sports to start back up. Our men’s ice hockey team opened their season up last Saturday against Johnson and Wales and earned themselves their first shutout; 5-0. This past Tuesday night, they started their Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference against Worcester State University and continued their dominance, moving to 2-0 overall and gaining their first MASCAC win. 

The Panthers took the early led after Victor Bergstrom (Angelholm Sweden) pounded the puck into the net after getting it passed to him from across the ice. But Worcester wasn’t being counted out quite yet as they tied up the game under five minutes later. Goalie Evan Morelli (Reading MA) did his best to block the low shot but it snuck through. He’d continue to block shots for the rest of the first period but with only 3:47 left, another got pass him. Worcester took the lead for the first and only time of the game and we went into the first intermission. 

Within eight minutes of the second period, Drake Longaker (Gilroy CA) tied it up for PSU and get the momentum back that we needed. It did just that as only three minutes later, Michael Covach moved around the defense to get his shot in, not only giving himself his third goal of the season but give Plymouth a 3-2 lead. Worcester still had some fight and kick in them as they capitalized on a power play in the 18^thminutes to once again tie the game before sending it into the second intermission. But Longaker wasn’t pleased with that, so with just over 10 seconds left, he sent the puck back into the goal to get his second of the night. 

Starting the third period was exciting from the beginning as PSU came out hot. The one-point lead wasn’t enough for them so the senior pair of Cam Cundy (Portsmouth NH) and Ludvig Steenberg (Stockholm Sweden) both scored on their behalf; just 27 seconds apart from one another. Plymouth’s defense would stay solid and serve Worcester their first loss. Plymouth outshot Worcester with almost double the amount of shots; 51-27. They also controlled face-offs by winning 15 more than their opponents. 

The Panthers are back this weekend as they travel for their first away game against Stonehill. Saturday’s game is set for 5:10 p.m.