(Box Score) 

            WILLIMANTIC, Conn. - Seniors DJ Simmons (Mystic, Conn.) and Matthew Savage (Southington, Conn.) scored four goals apiece Saturday afternoon as Eastern Connecticut State University powered past Plymouth State University, 18-3, in Little East Conference men's lacrosse action at Thomas Nevers Field.

            The Warriors, defending LEC regular season champions and preseason favorites, won their third straight contest to improve to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play.  PSU had its two-game win streak stopped and fell to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the Little East.

            The Eastern defense was stifling, limited the Panthers to just 13 shots and one goal in the first three quarters of play.  The Warriors finished with a 48-21 advantage in shots and a 47-29 margin in ground balls, and ECSU won 20 of the 25 face-offs.

            Eastern Conn. jumped out to a 6-1 lead after one quarter, and it was a 10-1 game at the break.  The Warriors put the contest out of reach with the first seven goals of the second half.

            Junior Brian Giroux (Wolfeboro Falls, N.H.) provided the highlights for PSU with a pair of goals, while classmate Steve Engel (South Windsor, Conn.) added a fourth-quarter score for the Panthers.  Junior Derick Smith (New London, N.H.) picked up a team-high five ground balls.

            The Panthers return to New Hampshire for their first "home" game of the season on Tuesday, hosting Castleton State College at The Holderness School (4:30 p.m.)  Eastern Conn. hosts Trinity College in a non-conference match-up Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. 

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