Connecticut College Skates Past Plymouth State

The Connecticut College women's ice hockey game scored a victory on unfriendly ice on Tuesday, scoring a third period goal to defeat Plymouth State University. The following information was provided by William Tomasian, sports information director at Connecticut College:

Sophomore Olivia Farrell (New York, N.Y.) scored a goal with 2:39 remaining in the third period Tuesday evening, breaking a 1-1 tie and giving Connecticut College a 2-1 victory over Plymouth State University in non-conference women's ice hockey action at Hanaway Rink.

The outcome spoiled a terrific performance by PSU sophomore goaltender Ali Ponte (Richmond Hills, Ontario), who made a career-high 54 saves to keep PSU in the game and hold the Camels at bay. Connecticut College, 3-0-1 in its last four games, pulled out the win to improve to 6-5-2 overall while the Panthers drop to 1-9-3.

The Camels out-shot the home team 18-5 in the first period, but Ponte stopped everything she saw to keep the game scoreless through 20 minutes.

The visitors kept the pressure on the in the middle frame, but Ponte continued her strong play and kept the Camels off the scoreboard. The Camels finally broke through midway through the period on a transition goal when sophomore Leah Kallen (Chicago, Ill.) passed from the left side across to freshman Jen Morgan (Orange, Conn.) on the right, and she lifted one past Ponte for a 1-0 lead.

Connecticut College nearly made it 2-0 late in the second period but Ponte made a nice save on junior Ariel DiPasquale (Whitestone, N.Y.) to keep it a one-goal game.

The Panthers finally got on the board in the third period. Sophomore Jamie O'Brien (Chelmsford, Mass.) made a nice poke-check while forechecking at the Camel blue line, creating a breakaway for herself, and she slipped the puck just inside the left post with 7:32 remaining to knot the game at 1-1.

With time winding down, Ponte made a save on sophomore Paige Murray (Andover, Mass.), but Farrell picked the rebound out of the scramble in front and got one past Ponte for the eventual game-winner.

Connecticut College finished with a 56-10 advantage in shots on goal. Sophomore Lee Tsairis (York Harbor, Maine) earned the victory for the Camels, making eight saves.

PSU is home this weekend for a pair of ECAC East Conference games, hosting UMass Boston on Friday evening and Saint Anselm College Saturday afternoon. Connecticut College plays its next four at home, beginning with NESCAC contests this Friday and Saturday against Wesleyan University.

Camel Tracks (Not Including Tuesday Night's Action) Connecticut College junior net-minder Amy Leichliter (West Chester, Pa.) paved the way to a three point weekend for the Camels in two starts at Colby. Leichliter stopped 52 of 54 shots while surrendering just two goals, compiling a .962 goals against average with a .962 save percentage in the two games.

Leichliter ranks fifth in the NESCAC with a 2.03 goals against average and is sixth in the conference with a .923 save percentage.

Three Camels share the team lead with eight points each. Sophomore Courtney Dumont (Lewiston, Maine) has tallied three goals and five assists. Olivia Farrell (New York, N.Y.) has chipped in with two goals and six assists and Lauren Posillico (Nesconset, N.Y) has accounted for a goal and seven assists.

Ariel DiPasquale (Whitestone, N.Y.) is seventh in the league with six goals scored.