(Box Score) 

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Sophomore defender Samantha Place (Newton, N.J.) registered a goal and an assist Friday afternoon while helping her team post a shutout victory as the University of Massachusetts Boston defeated Plymouth State University, 2-0, in a Little East Conference women's soccer game at Panther Field.

            Place scored the eventual game-winner with 10 minutes to go in the first half and set up the insurance marker by sophomore Julienne McCuish (Mashpee, Mass.) midway through the second frame.  Senior goalkeeper Jessica Penta (Revere, Mass.) made six saves to post her first shutout of the season as UMB improved to 11-3-1 overall and 4-1-1 in the Little East. PSU, which was celebrating Senior Day, fell to 5-8-2 overall and 1-5 in conference play.

            The game was evenly played through the first 25 minutes, with each team getting off a few shots on goal.  Junior Tina Gillen (Carver, Mass.) broke in alone for UMB 18 minutes into the contest but her shot was saved by PSU goalkeeper Angelina LaBroad (Hampton, N.H./Winnacunnet).  Senior Lauren Lavery (Nashua, N.H.) got off a quality shot for PSU from the top of the box four minutes later but it went over the net.

            The Beacons got on the board in the 36th minute when Gillen took a corner kick from the right corner, and Place headed it into the left corner of the net for her second goal of the season.  That gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at the intermission.

            Plymouth State nearly tied the game 15 minutes into the second half when Lavery fired a shot from the left side that slipped through the keeper's hands but Penta got enough of it to prevent the ball from going into the net.  UMB almost went up by two goals less than five minutes later when freshman Brittney Spencer (West Brookfield, Mass.) broke through the Panther defense but LaBroad made a terrific save from point-blank range.

            UMB notched the insurance marker in the 66th minute when McCuish deflected a shot by Place past LaBroad into the right side of the goal.

            PSU seemed to keep the ball in the Beacons' end of the field the remaining 20 minutes but couldn't get off a quality shot against a tough UMB defense, led by Place and sophomores Alex Deware (Needham, Mass.) and Stephanie McGrath (North Attleboro, Mass.)

           The Panther veterans celebrating Senior Day included Lavery, Stacy DiSabato (Manchester, N.H./Central), Jen Mooney (Whitman, Mass.), Gianna Minervini (Point Pleasant, N.J.) and Ariana Hunt (Pierre, S.D.)

            PSU plays its final home game of the season on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. against Fitchburg State. UMB plays its final three regular season games at home, beginning Tuesday vs. Framingham State (3:30 p.m.)  

-- 30 --