Sophomore Payton Schaly (Orillia, Ontario) potted the game-winning goal for the second straight game and top-seeded and #11 Plymouth State University blanked second-seeded Fitchburg State University, 3-0, in the championship game of the 2024 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men's Ice Hockey Tournament at Hanaway Rink on Saturday evening.

Schaly, who was named Tournament MVP, broke a scoreless tie late in the first period. PSU tacked on a pair of goals in the middle stanza, while the Panthers' defense limited Fitchburg State to just six shots on goal through the first two periods.
 
Senior Kalle Andersson (Taby, Sweden) made seven saves in the final frame to secure the shutout as the Panthers capture their fifth-straight title to claim the MASCAC's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
 
PSU (23-2-2) will learn its tournament fate when the NCAA selection show airs on NCAA.com on Monday (Mar. 4) at 10:00 a.m. Fitchburg State ends the season at 15-10-2.
 
The Basics:

• #11 Plymouth State 3, Fitchburg State 0
  • #11 Plymouth State (23-2-2)
  • Fitchburg State (15-10-2)

How it Happened:

• Junior Cam Patton (Truro, Nova Scotia) had the game's first chance just over four minutes in when classmate Donte' DiPonio (Trenton, Mich.) played the puck to him off the end boards, but the Fitchburg State goalie was able to get to the post in time to stuff his shot.
• The Falcons had the game's first power play a couple minutes later, but Plymouth State's penalty kill unit was superb, not allowing a single shot.
• Plymouth State built heavy zone time throughout the first period but was unable to break through until going on the power play with 3:37 left in the frame.
• PSU quickly capitalized on the man advantage as sophomore Rider McCallum (Langley, British Columbia) played the puck to junior Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) on the end boards. Stuckless fired a quick pass to Schaly in the high slot, who blasted a one-timer past the goaltender for the 1-0 lead.
• The Panthers doubled the margin at the 3:49 mark of the second. Seniors Colin Tracy (Concord, N.H.) and Jeromy Rancourt (Lewiston, Maine) teamed up to force a Fitchburg State turnover in the defensive zone. Freshman Will Pray(Wheaton, Ill.) collected the loose puck and sent it across the ice to senior Brett Lockhart (Braintree, Mass.), who fired a stretch pass through the neutral zone to junior Connor Tait (Boyds, Md.). Tait streaked in from the left side before blasting a wrister from the left circle to beat the Falcons' goalie to the glove side and make it 2-0.
• The Falcons had a rare chance midway through the period on a 2-on-2 but Andersson kicked the shot aside.
• Plymouth State pushed the advantage to 3-0 with 5:35 left in the frame. DiPonio fired a shot from the left side into traffic and Rancourt cleaned up the rebound.
• The Panthers maintained control through the third period, though PSU was unable to add to its lead. Andersson stood tall on the few times he was tested to preserve the shutout and send Plymouth State back to the NCAA Tournament.

By the Numbers:

• Schaly finished the tournament with two goals and two assists.
• Nine separate players registered a single point for the Panthers.
• Plymouth State held a 41-13 advantage in shots.
• The Panthers finished 1-for-5 on the power play, while PSU's penalty kill unit was spectacular in holding the Falcons to just one shot on three power play chances.

 
Up Next:

• Plymouth State will wait to learn its opponent when the NCAA airs its selection show on NCAA.com on Monday (Mar. 4) at 10:00 a.m.

 Release courtesy of Plymouth State Sports Information