Back-to-Back Home Games Loom Large For Women’s Hockey

It has been a tough go for the Plymouth State Women’s hockey team in February, as they have dropped their first three games of the month. The Panthers’ overall record stands at 3-18-2, and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East record of 3-11-1.

Against the University of Southern Maine, PSU got off to a slow start, as the Huskies were able to score twice in the opening period. The lead got to 3-0, but the Panthers were able to get on the board with 2:24 left in the second period, as senior Kelsey Cosby (Walpole, MA) found the back of the net to give Plymouth some energy.

Unfortunately for PSU, the third period was scoreless for both sides, and the score at the final horn was 3-1 in favor of USM.

Plymouth’s next game at home against Castleton had strong goalie play in the first 20 minutes of the game, as Alyssa Altschuler (Cheshire, CT)  stopped the five shots that she faced. PSU’s offense was unable to find the back of the net as well in the first, so both teams went into the first intermission scoreless. In the second period, neither team was able to sustain much momentum, as each team had chances throughout the first few minutes of the period. Castleton was able to break the tie, scoring  3:38  into the second period.

As the third period got underway, the Spartans scored  9:49 into the period, but junior Marisa Zamrock (Lewiston, ME) scored to cut the lead to 2-1 after Courtney Evans (Fairbanks, AK) and Emily Auby (Stoughton, WI) set Zamrock up for her third goal of the season. The Panthers were hungry to tie the game up at 2 apiece, but were unfortunately denied the opportunity, as Castleton added another goal only a minute later. Auby and senior Kate Banys (Newburyport, MA) were unable to find the back of the net, and after Altschuler was pulled, Evans and Zamrock had the same result.

The team’s most recent game was a different story, as Plymouth faced Franklin Pierce with the upset in mind. The Ravens came into the game with a 10-3 record within the ECAC East, so PSU knew they were in for a battle.

With 4:14 left in the first period, Kelsey Cosby and Haley Branovan (Wexford, PA) set up Kelsey Lynch (Collegeville, PA) for the goal to give Plymouth the 1-0 lead. Altschuler was able to let the Panthers keep this lead in the first period, as she was able to stop 18 shots through the first 20 minutes of the game.

Unfortunately for Plymouth, the lead didn’t last long in the second period, as the Ravens tied the game up at 1 5:05 into the second. FPU took a 2-1 lead with 3:19 left in the frame.

Franklin Pierce was able to sustain the momentum into the third, as they found the back of the net 7:25 into the period, and scored to make it 4-1 about two minutes later. A powerplay goal by the Ravens wrapped up the scoring, as FPU pulled away with a 5-1 win.

“We can’t sit on our frustrations, we just have to come back harder and smarter,” Head Coach Ashley Kilstein explained. While the overall record may say otherwise, the Panthers have been in, or had a lead in almost all of their games this season.

Luckily for PSU, they still have two home games this weekend to prove that they are a team to be meant business with in the ECAC East.

This weekend’s games feature the University of Southern Maine, as well as Nichols College traveling to Central New Hampshire this weekend. Coming into this game, USM has a conference record of 5-7-3, while Nichols is 4-11. With the Panthers sustaining a record of 3-11-1, these games have big implications as to who will make the ECAC East post-season tournament.

Kilstein knows that these games are big, but won’t blow these games out of proportion. “These weekends games are certainly big, but there’s never such things as small games to us,” Kilstein said. “The kids are playing for something bigger than themselves this weekend, and that’s the best part about the weekend.”

The thing that is “bigger” than themselves this weekend is that the game against Nichols College is the team’s Senior Day. Despite there being only player that are seniors on this year’s team, all three have played crucial roles over the past few years.

Kelsey Cosby will leave Plymouth having scored the most points by a large margin in Plymouth State Women’s hockey history, as her 38 points leads all other Panthers by at least 14 points. Cosby also holds the all-time record for most goals and assists in a career, and also for the most points and assists for a season.

Courtney Sollows (West Barnstable, MA) was the captain of the Panthers this season after being an alternate captain for the 2013-2014 season. Sollows has been a stellar defenseman for PSU, and will have her leadership missed for future years.

Last, but not least, Kate Banys leaves after climbing into the top five in points for a career on the Women’s hockey team. Banys also currently leads the team in goals this season, and will be a tough fill for next year’s team

Kilstein speaks extremely highly of all three, saying that she has “had the ability to watch them grow into exceptional adults, pave the way for our underclassmen, and their legacy will certainly be hard to match.”

Knowing how big of a role that these three have played during their time at PSU should result in the team’s high desire to win both games this weekend. Kilstein put it best, saying that “They’re a high energy group to begin with, so they’re looking to prove something.”

PSU’s games this weekend will take place at 6:00 P.M. on Friday night, while Senior Day is set to occur at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday afternoon.