GORHAM, Maine – Suffolk women's ice hockey confirmed its place in the NEHC Finals, as the sixth-seeded Rams upstaged the third seed Southern Maine, 2-1, with a third period power play goal Saturday afternoon at USM Ice Arena.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 2 | Southern Maine 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (10-14-3) | Southern Maine (12-13-2) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The home team would have the first open chance going on the power play just two minutes into the contest. The Rams withstood the first test making a few blocks and Julia McLellan denying an opening goal. Suffolk would have a pair of chances in transition soon after the penalty kill. First, Haley Poloskey had her effort blocked away, then Julia Volpe had her shot turned aside by Whitney Padgett. 

Each team would follow with great chances, but both netminders came up with point blank saves. Cassidy Gruning was denied by Padgett with a left sided attempt, followed by Madison Duff's shot being stopped. McLellan would respond holding off a wraparound effort in front of her crease.  

Suffolk would go on power play just before the first intermission but could not find its way past Padgett and the teams headed to the locker rooms scoreless.  

After the ice make, Suffolk would be granted its second power play. Shana Cote would twice call Southern Maine goalie into action to hold off the Rams. USM would contain the penalty power play, but Suffolk started to take control of the period. Duff and Cote would have their shots knocked away as the Rams continued to push to get on the scoreboard.  

The added pressure would pay off with Maddy Burton finding the back of the net with 8:00 minutes remaining in the period. Grace Scholz found Cote down behind the cage. Cote wrapped around pushing the puck into the crease, Burton then forced it past Padgett in a scramble for a 1-0 Suffolk advantage. 

After the goal, the Huskies amped up the attack forcing McLellan to deny a handful of great chances. With the added pressure Southern Manie manufactured a power play opportunity with just over five minutes left to play in the period. McLellan and the Rams held firm though, holding off a hand full of attacks by the Huskies. 

Then during 4-on-4 action, after matching penalties, Suffolk would be reduced to three skaters with 1:32 remaining in the second frame. Once again Suffolk's defense kept the Huskies off the board until the horn sounded to take the 1-0 edge into the second intermission.  

Out of the locker room, the Rams would kill off the remaining 28 seconds of the Huskies power play and restore the game to even strength. Looking for a tying goal, Southern Maine came out firing in the third frame. McLellan was alert, stopping two consecutive 1-on-1 attempts. However, the Huskies would cash in on the added pressure tying the game 5:35 into the third period. A bouncing puck found its way to Rylie Binette, who converted the a one-on-one against McLellan to bring the score to 1-1. 

Soon after, the Rams would be given a power play chance with under ten minutes to play in the final frame. Suffolk would capitalize on the power play as Izzy Hendry's one timer from the blue line with 8:45 left in the final frame returned the lead to Suffolk, 2-1. The play was kept alive as Jesse Kennedy prevented the puck from leaving the offensive zone, before passing the puck over to Hendry's wind up effort which sailed through traffic past Padgett.  

The Huskies would throw everything forward looking to send the game to overtime. The Rams would hold off rush after rush as with McLellan making key stops. With 1:08 remaining, Southern Maine would be given a power play, looking to bring the score to two all. The Rams held firm, even when Padgett skated over to her bench with 41 seconds remaining for a 6-on-4.  

NETMINDER NOTES

• McLellan recorded 12 saves in between the pipes.
• Padgett pushed aside 25 shots over 60 minutes.   

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Burton and Hendry each potted a puck for the Rams.
• Cote, Scholz, and Kennedy each collected an assist on the afternoon.
• The Rams held the edge on shots 27-13. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk competed in its first ever NEHC Semifinal in program.
• The Rams clashed with Southern Maine in the NEHC tourney for the first time.
• This was the first time the Rams have won in Gorham against Southern Maine.
• Suffolk collected its first NEHC Semifinal win in program history. 
• The Rams are now 2-0 during the postseason on the road, following last week's 2-0 NEHC Quarterfinal victory over Johnson & Wales. 
• The blue-and-gold is now 2-1-0 in the playoffs. 
• The Rams advance to the NEHC Championship for the first time in program history. 
• Suffolk is 2-0-0 in the post-season as the sixth seed. 
• Suffolk enhances the all-time series lead against the Huskies to 3-1-1. 
• Burton scored her 11th goal of the season. 
• Hendry picked up her fourth goal of the season, second game-winning goal of the campaign. 
• McLellan collected her second postseason victory while in net.  

POST-GAME PIC
 

COMING UP
Suffolk will enter the programs first-ever NEHC Final, matching up with top seeded, nationally ranked, #7 Norwich on Saturday, March 7, in Northfield, Vermont.