PLYMOUTH, N.H. - The New England College men's ice hockey team suffered a road loss up I-93 at Plymouth State as the Panthers used a three-goal second period to propel themselves past the Pilgrims, 4-2, on Saturday evening. 

Sophomore Egor Osipik (Minsk, Belarus) scored the game's first goal 3:13 into the second period after a scoreless first, putting the 'Grims up 1-0 off a dish from senior Graham Padgitt (St. Charles, Ill.) and freshman Jack Ohlund (Lakeville, Minn.). Padgitt, playing in his 98th career game as a Pilgrim, tallied his 25th career point from the defensive back line. 

The Panthers answered with three straight goals to close out the second period as Tucker Shedd, Will Redick, and Will Pray gave Plymouth State a 3-1 lead after two. 

The Pilgrims cut into the Panthers' lead midway through the third period as junior Dylan Duckson (Mahtomedi, Minn.) capitalized on a loose puck amongst a pack of Panther defenders and sent a strike over the goalie's left leg pad. Freshman Matteo Viglino (Davos, Switzerland) and junior Christophe Petit (Chelsea, Quebec) were given assists on the goal to make it a 3-2 game. 

NEC would go empty net with 2:07 remaining in the game as they attempted to send the game to overtime. The Panthers defense would hold up, eventually turning the Pilgrims over, and Reddick buried an empty net goal for the 4-2 win. 

Making his second start of the season, sophomore Vladmir Maksimov (Yaroslavl, Russia) set a new career-high with 37 saves. 

The team now returns to their home ice next weekend for the final two games of the regular season: On Friday night, the team welcomes nationally ranked Babson into town for a 7:00 matchup and, on Saturday afternoon, they wrap things up against Southern Maine at 4:00 PM. 

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