Panthers pick up first Little East victory

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior Tommy Schrey (Munich, Germany/Alvirne HS, N.H.) scored two goals Saturday afternoon, including the game-winner with five minutes remaining, as Plymouth State University defeated the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 3-1, in a Little East Conference men's soccer match at chilly Panther Field.

            Schrey finished with two goals and one assist as he played a part in all three Panther goals.  PSU picked up its first Little East victory of the season, improving to 5-7-1 overall and 1-4 in conference play, while UMD fell to 8-3-2 overall and 2-2-1 in the LEC.

            The Corsairs were the first to get on the board, needing less than five minutes to take a 1-0 lead.  Senior Kyle Estrella (Dartmouth, Mass.) split the defense on a breakaway and scored his fourth goal of the season to give UMD an early lead.

            PSU evened the match in the 29th minute when freshman Moses Igah (Abuja, Nigeria) broke through for the Panthers for his second goal of the season.  Schrey sent a long cross into the box where Igah finished the terrific play with a diving header.  Plymouth State had a 9-3 advantage in shots in the opening half but settled for a 1-1 deadlock at the break.

            The Panthers continued to apply pressure in the second half but appeared headed for overtime with the clock winding down.  Schrey changed that when he scored the eventual game-winner at the 84:48 mark, heading in a clearing attempt by the Corsairs.  UMD pushed all 11 men forward in the final five minutes in an attempt to score the equalizer, but Schrey got loose at midfield and tallied a breakaway insurance goal into an empty net with 32 seconds remaining.

            The home team finished with a 16-6 advantage in shots, while corner kicks were tied at 3-3.  UMD sophomore keeper Kellen Rauch (Ashland, Mass.) finished with five saves, while PSU sophomore Bjorn Ohlsson (Halmstad, Sweden) made one save to record the victory.

            PSU is back in action Wednesday with a non-conference affair at Castleton (4:00 p.m.), while UMD returns home to host Worcester State Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. 

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