POULTNEY, Vt. -- Senior co-captain Keith Whittemore (Holderness, N.H.) scored two goals and assisted on another Wednesday afternoon and Plymouth State University went on to defeat Green Mountain College, 6-4, in non-conference men's soccer action.

            The Panthers scored three goals in each half in a balanced attack to record the 500th win of the men's soccer program's 52-year history. PSU improves to 6-8-1 overall this season, while GMC is now 9-8-1.

            Whittemore opened the game with a goal in the first two minutes of play, assisted by senior back Takeru Tanikawa (Shizuoka, Japan).  Tanikawa scored the second on a dead ball with 18 remaining in the half and junior forward Adam Gove (Kingston, N.H.) followed to make it a 3-0 game. Freshman Santiago Laight (Buenos Aires, Argentina) put in the lone GMC goal in the waning minutes of the first half to send the players to the locker room with a 3-1 count.

            The second half proved even more fruitful in front of the goal.  Freshman Adrian Burnett (Durham, Conn.) scored to increase the Panther lead, but GMC answered with an unassisted goal from senior Matt Porto (Guilford, Conn.) to go to 4-2.  Senior Alex Marin (Manchester, N.H.) scored what would be the game-winner with 28 minutes on the clock.

            The Eagles pulled to within a goal with a pair of strikes, both assisted by senior Bradley Mitchell (Essex, Vt.), one by freshman Matt Cote (Meredith, N.H.) and another by freshman Dawson Lybeck (West Haven, Vt.)  Whittemore knocked in an insurance goal for the Panthers with 11 minutes remaining.

            Tanikawa finished with a goal and two assists for PSU, and freshman Stefan Welch (Tokyo, Japan) contributed two assists.

            Panther freshman goalkeeper Brian Church (Boxford, Mass.) made 11 saves in his first career appearance, and Eagle junior Zach Collins (Downington, PA) made seven saves.

            The Eagles are back in action Saturday at Skidmore (2 p.m.)  Plymouth State wraps up its season Saturday with a Little East Conference match-up at UMass Boston 1:00 p.m. (Courtesy of Green Mountain Sports Information)

-- 30 --