PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The New England College women's ice hockey team showed competitive resilience before falling behind late at Plymouth State University on Friday evening at the Plymouth State University Ice Arena in Plymouth, New Hampshire in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) action.  

THE BASICS 
Score: New England College 2, Plymouth State University 4 
Records: Pilgrims 5-15-0, 1-13-0 NEHC | Panthers 5-15-0, 5-8-0 NEHC 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• After going back and forth for most of the first quarter, Plymouth State sophomore forward Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) provided a huge spark as she scored two ecstatic goals in 15 seconds. The first of which came with 28 seconds left in the first period where she got her team pushing down into NEC territory and flipped the puck in to make it 1-0 as she was assisted by sophomore defender Jacqueline Martin (Smithfield, R.I.) and senior defender Lauren McNeil (Ottawa, Ontario). 
• Porrello's second goal in the aforementioned sequence was scored with 14 seconds remaining in the period with her showing determination and snuck in the puck off a rebound from her own shot to make it 2-0 Panthers as senior forward Sophie Streed (Surry, N.H.) and senior defender Mia Zaniboni (Braintree, Mass.) were credited for the assists. 
• Down but not out, NEC wanted to make it a game as sophomore forward Meadow Gilchrist (Stamford, Conn.) pushed the tempo as she approached the opponent's goal with a side pass to sophomore forward Olivia Lindberg (Stockholm, Sweden) who she then dropped it off to freshman forward Alexis Hornsby (Atkinson, N.H.) who fires in the goal at the 4:05 mark in the second period to cut Plymouth State's lead to 2-1. 
• In one of the more intense moments of the game on a power-play, the 'Grims would tie it up at two a piece where sophomore defender Gabrielle Iwinski (Batavia, Ill.) showed her lightning speed as she skated around several Panthers and chucked in the goal at the 10:18 mark. Iwinski was assisted by Lindberg and graduate forward Cassie Kelly (Alexandria, Minn.). 
• As regulation was approaching towards the end, Plymouth State showed the effect of a home-rink advantage as they went full-force to put the puck in net where it was batted around the goal crease before finally going in from freshman forward Lilli Warnock (Bernardsville, N.J.) and was assisted by sophomore forward Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) and senior forward Robyn Grant (Airdrie, Alberta). 
• To cap off what was initially a tight contest, the Panters put away NEC for good as Wornock knocked in her second goal of the game with 15 seconds remaining in regulation on an open net with Cunningham and sophomore defender Sanna Augustsson (Sätila, Sweden) to win it for Plymouth State 4-2. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• NEC sophomore goaltender Amy Donnelly (Taunton, Mass) ended the competition with 30 saves. 
• Plymouth State senior goaltender Amelia Julian (Apple Valley, Minn.) came away with 38 saves along with the win. 
• Despite the heartbreaking loss, the 'Grims outshot the Panthers on goal 40-34. 
• NEC also won the battle of faceoffs with a 33-29 advantage while being on the road.

UP NEXT 

• NEC is back on the ice on Saturday, January 27th when they go up against NEHC foe Vermont State University-Castleton at the Spartan Arena with puck dropping at 6:00 PM. 
• Plymouth State stays home as they face the 11th-ranked team in the nation in Norwich University on Saturday, January 27th with puck-drop at 2:00 PM at the PSU Ice Arena. 

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.