KEENE, N.H. – Following a defeat in overtime less than 24 hours prior, the Keene State College women's ice hockey team bounced back with four different goal scorers and Ai Chung making 40 saves in goal as the Owls defeated Plymouth State University, 4-1.

Records

• Keene State: 6-8 (3-5-0 LEC)
• Plymouth State: 5-7-0 (1-7-0 LEC)

Postgame Interview (Coach Morgan)
Postgame Interview (Tabby Jones/Erika Hellström)

How it Happened
The Owls started on the attack early as they recorded three shots on goal over the opening 1:12, but the Panthers' starting goaltender Karlee Lehner saves all three. Lehner was unable to save the next shot from the Owls on target though, as Caroline Demeo got the puck behind PSU's net and fed a pass to Tabby Jones just outside the Panthers' crease and buried home a one timer into the back of the net to give KSC a 1-0 lead 4:02 into the contest. A few minutes later, after three shots in goal by Chung for the Owls, PSU had their first power play opportunity of the day. Chung saves the only shot on goal form the Panthers over the 1:44 of the initial penalty, before KSC was called for another penalty with 16 seconds remaining to send the game to 5-on-3. Unlike on Friday when PSU capitalized on their 5-on-3 opportunity, they were unable to today as KSC killed off the first penalty and Chung made three saves as the Owls killed off the other penalty to send the contest back to 5-on-5 with 8:49 remaining in the first. PSU continued to apply the pressure the rest of the opening period, but Chung made five more saves, compared to three from Lehner as KSC took their 1-0 lead into the second period.
 
PSU opened the second period on a power play 1:30 into the second, and once again it did not last the entire duration without being affected as the Owls were called for another penalty 1:17 into the advantage, sending the contest to 5-on-3 for 43 seconds. PSU called their only timeout of the game to draw a play up and regroup, hoping to score to draw even, just as they did on Friday night following their timeout on the 5-on-3, but this time the Owls killed off both penalties with Chung only needing to make one save and KSC got back to full strength just under five minutes into the second. A few minutes later, PSU was called for their first penalty of the day, but just as the Panthers' previous power play opportunity, KSC was unable to have one shot that was saved before the penalty was killed off shortly after. Just over halfway through the second, both teams had a player disqualified and another penalty was called on the Owls as PSU had their third opportunity to draw even of the period. Chung saved the two shots over the advantage before the two teams were each called for a penalty seconds apart just as the original penalty. Chung again made three more saves over the next two minutes and Brianna Finke's shot rang off the pipe for the Owls. Finke's shot that hit the pipe wasn't the only occurrence of that happening in the second as two minutes later when it was back to 5-on-5, Ellie Patrick had a shot hit the pipe too, preventing the Owls from adding an insurance goal again with under five minutes remaining in the second. The rest of the period neither team found the back of the net as both goalies made a pair of saves heading into the second intermission.
 
Following Ava Iantosca's faceoff win to open the third period for the Owls, the Owls added their second goal of their game as Patrick and Jones assisted Emerson Spinale for a goal, 1:30 into the period. For the third time in 10 minutes of game time shortly after Spinale's goal, an Owl hit the post as Iantosca saw her shot hit the post. It didn't take long for Iantosca to help the Owls find the back of the net again though, as she won another faceoff, leading to her picking up an assist, alongside Finke, on Erika Hellström's first career collegiate goal as her shot from the blue line found its way past Lehner and into the net to put KSC up 3-0. 7:58 into the third, KSC was called for yet another penalty, but PSU was once again unable to capitalize it with Chung making two more saves to maintain the clean sheet against PSU halfway through the period. Chung continued to hold her ground over the next seven minutes, making seven more saves for the Owls, but with 2:30 remaining in the contest, PSU pulled their goalie for the extra skater and capitalized shortly after. Chung made a save and the Owls' defense blocked a pair of shots, but the Panthers found the back of the net with Olivia Robbins pulling PSU within a pair. The Panthers' late momentum didn't last long as they were called for a penalty and with the pulled goalie, Emily Edmunds took a shot from the Owls' blue line for the dagger, giving KSC the 4-1 win over PSU.
 
Inside the Crease

• Keene State evens the all-time series between the two teams at 3-3 with the victory as neither team has won more than one meeting in a row.
• The Owls scored four goals for the second time on the season with the last time being the first game of the season on October 31 at Hilbert College where KSC won 8-1.
• All four Owls that scored a goal in the contest are in their first season with KSC with Jones scoring her second goal for KSC, while Edmunds and Spinale scored their third goals for KSC, and Hellström, the midseason transfer, tallied her second career collegiate point after recording an assist at New England College last season.
• Chung bounced back after the defeat the previous night where she made 36 saves by making 40 saves in the win. Lehner only made 17 saves, while allowing the four goals to the Owls in the defeat.
• KSC had the edge on faceoffs, going 32-for-57 (56.1%) with Iantosca having one of the best games on faceoffs of her collegiate career, going 18-for-22 (81.8%) leading KSC, while Loreli Norman went 8-for-14 (57.1%) for the Owls.
• KSC struggled to stay out of the box again as KSC was called for eight penalties, bringing the total to 18 over the two games on the weekend, compared to four called against PSU and 10 on the weekend.
• The Owls tripled up the Panthers on blocked shots, 12-4, as Maddie DeSouza led the way with four blocked shots, while Patrick had three and Kenzley Goode had a pair.

 
Up Next
 
Keene State hits the road for a pair of conference games for their next contests as the Owls travel to take on Norwich University on Friday, January 16th, at 4:00 PM.
Plymouth State next plays in their third game over four days as they travel to take on Salve Regina University on Monday, January 12, at 8:00 PM.