Box Score

PLYMOUTH, N.H. -- Rookie goaltender Sydney Helmbrecht stopped all 29 shots that came her way, and the University of New England received second-period goals from Shannon Smith and Emily Corrales in a 2-0 shutout of Plymouth State University Friday evening (Dec. 6) at Hanaway Rink.

The win was the second in two nights over the Panthers for UNE, which concludes first-semester play with a mark of 5-4-1. Plymouth State is 2-7-0.

After a scoreless first period, the Nor'easters would get all the offense they would need when Shannon Smith buried a wrist shot through a screen 5:34 into the frame. Gabriella Moscato and Cassandra Connolly set-up the play.

Big Blue would tack on an insurance goal with 5:29 left in the period. Connolly spotted Corrales in front of the Panther cage, and the rookie forward finished the play for her sixth marker of the year.

Helmbrecht came up huge in the period to help preserve the UNE lead, recording a pair of breakaway stops within a span of 30 seconds. Helmbrecht kicked out a shot by PSU's Olivia Leon and made a glove save on a bid by Shannon Hickey.

UNE took advantage of four Panther penalties in the final period to help keep Plymouth State off the scoreboard.

For the second straight night, the Nor'easters trailed in shots on goal (29-25), but once again proved to be efficient with their scoring opportunities.

Helmbrecht not only recorded her first collegiate victory between the pipes, she also notched the program's first shutout.

Ali Ponte finished with 23 stops for the Panthers.

The Nor'easters are off just over a month before returning to action Jan. 7 at Nichols College.


(portions of the story courtesy Plymouth State Sports Information)