DANBURY, Conn. - Western
Connecticut State University scored three goals in the final three
minutes of the third quarter, and then put up a strong defensive
stand in the fourth quarter en route to a 9-7 victory over Plymouth
State University in the Little East Conference men's lacrosse
opener for both schools.
PSU fell behind 5-1 midway through the third quarter but rallied
with four unanswered goals in a four-minute span to deadlock the
game at 5-5 with 4:39 to go in the third. WestConn answered with
three of the four goals in the final three minutes of the frame to
go up by two, 8-6. The Panthers pulled to within a goal in
the first minute of the fourth quarter, and it stayed that way
until the Colonials added an insurance goal with 2:33 remaining.
Leading the attack for Plymouth State were sophomore Brian
Giroux (Wolfeboro Falls, N.H.) and senior Adam
Krinsky (Concord, N.H.) with two goals each. Senior
John Cogswell (Jefferson, Mass.) and sophomores
Steve Engel (South Windsor, Conn.) and Tim
Hadley (New London, N.H.) each scored one goal, and Hadley
led the team with five ground balls.
Sophomore Adam Lanehart (Redding, Conn.) led the
WestConn scoring attack with three goals, followed by junior
George Tsirigotis (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) who added
two. Also scoring for the Colonials were sophomore
Andrew Barbieri (Islip Terrace, N.Y.), freshman
Tom Begley (East Islip, N.Y.), junior
Vincent Bevilacqua (Branford, Conn.), and senior
Ron Pac (Glastonbury, Conn.) who each scored
once. Senior Dennis Skarda (Danbury, Conn.)
led the Colonials in assists with three.
WestConn had a 24-12 advantage in shots in the first half, and PSU
came back with a 25-12 margin in shots in the second half.
Plymouth State scored in the game's second minute to take an early
lead, but was held scoreless for the remainder of the first half.
Lanehart scored three straight goals for the Colonials to give the
home team a 3-1 margin at halftime. After the teams combined for 10
goals in the third quarter, the defenses took over in the fourth
quarter, with each team only scoring once.
When Plymouth State scored in the first minute of the fourth, it
appeared the scoring frenzy would continue, but both goal tenders,
Plymouth State freshman Billy Morgan (Winchester,
Mass.) and Western junior Kyle Wood (Hyde Park,
N.Y.), turned away numerous scoring chances. The final two
minutes were dominated by a flurry of Plymouth State shots and
acrobatic saves by Wood, with WestConn holding on for the
win. Both goalies finished with 13 saves.
The Panthers (3-2, 0-1) will play a make-up game Sunday at Nichols
College (1:00 p.m.). WestConn (5-3, 1-0) travels to in-state
and Little East rival Eastern Connecticut on Wednesday for a 4:00
p.m. contest.
(Courtesy of Western Connecticut Sports Information)
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