WORCESTER, Mass. - Sophomore
Brian Giroux (Wolfeboro Falls, N.H.) scored three
goals and junior Conor McCullough (Dover, N.H.)
added a pair Tuesday evening as Plymouth State University defeated
Clark University, 9-4, in non-conference men's lacrosse action at
Granger Field.
The Panthers scored four unanswered goals to start the third
quarter, breaking a 1-1 tie and taking the lead for good. PSU
improves to 5-3 overall, while the Cougars drop to 3-7.
It was a tight defensive battle throughout the first half.
After a scoreless first quarter, in which Clark outshot the
visitors 12-5, the Cougars got on the board with just under nine
minutes remaining in the half on a goal by junior Shawn Roche
(Centerport, N.Y.) It took PSU only 14 seconds for McCullough
to score tie the game for PSU, and that's the way the first half
ended, deadlocked at 1-1.
Giroux, McCullough, freshman Teddy Akriviellis
(Dover, Mass.) and junior Jordan Buzzell (Bath,
Maine) all found the net in a four-minute span early in the third
quarter, staking the Panthers to a 5-1 lead. Roche got one
back for Clark with seven minutes to go in the third, but PSU got
momentum heading into the final period when Giroux scored with just
two seconds on the clock to make it 6-2.
Freshmen Sam Waszkelewicz (Glastonbury, Conn.) and
Andrew Eriksen (Beverly, Mass.) and Giroux added
fourth quarter goals for the Panthers. Senior Dan Stern
(Westport, Conn.) and sophomore Garrett McAdam (Portland, Maine)
scored for the Cougars, but PSU prevented any comeback.
PSU finished with a 20-17 advantage in shots on goal, and a 41-38
margin in ground balls. Senior Mike Russell
(Concord, N.H.) collected a team-high six ground balls for the
Panthers, while Giroux picked up five. Freshman Billy
Morgan (Winchester, Mass.) earned the win in goal, making
13 saves.
The Panthers return to Little East Conference action on Thursday
with a 4:00 p.m. contest at defending champion and pre-season
favorite Keene State College.
(Courtesy of Clark Sports Information)
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