Women’s Hockey to Play Home Opener Friday after Historic Start

By Jack Robinson

Published November 11, 2026

Women’s Ice Hockey opened their 2026-2027 season as road warriors, winning their first three games. They defeated the Nor’easters of the University of New England 2-1 in the Panthers’ Oct. 31 season opener. They then played back-to-back games this weekend, pitching a 2-0 shutout win on Nov. 6 against the UMass Boston Beacons and beating the University of Southern Maine 3-1 on Nov. 7.

The Panthers had never started a season 3-0-0 before this year. Yes, you read that correctly: never before in program history had the Panthers started a season 3-0-0. 

This Panther team is led by four seniors. First is right wing Laura Castronova, who recorded 10 points last year on six goals and four assists. By her side is right wing Emily Gerrie, who tallied 17 points on six goals and 11 assists in her junior season. Behind them are defenders Grace Bonnell and Erika Johnson. Bonnell also tallied 17 points on six goals and 11 assists last year, while Johnson registered six points on one goal and five assists. 

Along with a strong and experienced senior class, the Panthers return with an impressive sophomore class in the wings: Lisi Palmer, Olivia Robbins, Mylee Serkis, and Sofia Cuozzo. Those Panthers combined for 39 points on 19 goals and 20 assists last season. On the defensive end: Amelia Spencer, Claire Deis, and Maddie Wiggins. 

Not mentioned above is senior goaltender Karlee Lehner, who played in eight games last year and put up 176 saves with a .912 save percentage. So far this year, Lehner has been an absolute brick wall standing on her head. She went 23-24 in saves against the Nor’easters, and she made 38 saves in the shutout win six days later against UMass Boston. On Saturday against the Huskies, Lehner went 25-26 in saves. Lehner was named conference Goalkeeper of the Week Monday following her standout performances. If she continues to shine, Panther opponents are going to have a tough time this season. 

When the Panthers played the Nor’Easters, it was a scoreless first period, with the Panthers putting up multiple shots in the first five minutes of the game to assert their dominance. Midway through the second period, the Panthers had a goal called off because of a crease violation, which led to the Nor’Easters taking a 1-0 lead with 6:40 remaining in the second period. Senior Emma Lemery forced a turnover and tied the game 1-1 on a shorthanded goal. Morgan Slough scored the game-winner early in the third period to take a 2-1 lead with just under 19 minutes to play. Lehner made four huge saves down the line towards the end of the third period to claim the 2-1 win. 

Friday evening started with another scoreless first period for the Panthers, but just eight seconds into the second period, Gerrie found Castronova, who finished at the far post to take a 1-0 lead for the Panthers. Plymouth didn’t need another goal, but Bonnell gave them extra cushion when she found the back of the net with a wrist shot to make it 2-0 midway through the second period. True to form, Lehner couldn’t be any more clutch as she collected her highest save total (38) since last year, when she made 51 against Curry College in a December win. 

The Panthers made history Saturday, starting 3-0 on the season and 2-0 in conference play. Cuozzo scored for the Panthers six minutes into the first period to make it 1-0, and Maci Peller doubled the lead four minutes into the second period. The Huskies scored early in the third to make it a one-score game and put the pressure back on. The Huskies had a power play chance later in the third after Sophia Nelson committed a holding penalty, but the Panthers killed that, and Lilli Warnock put the game further out of reach as she made it 3-1. 

The Panthers will finally make their home opener this weekend with back-to-back conference games: 5 p.m. Friday against Norwich University and 5 p.m. Saturday against Castleton.