Second-half goals propel Panthers past Huskies

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior Sammi Jo Saltalamacchia scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick in the first minute of the second half Saturday afternoon and Plymouth State University went on to defeat the University of Southern Maine, 2-0, in Little East Conference women's soccer action at Panther Field.

            Sophomore Laura Davis added an insurance goal for the Panthers with 16 minutes remaining to seal the victory.  PSU snapped a six-game losing streak and improved to 4-7 overall and 1-3 in conference play, while USM dropped its seventh in a row and fell to 2-10 overall and 0-4 in the Little East.

            Both teams had scoring opportunities in the first half but the goalkeepers kept the ball out of the net.  PSU senior Angelina LaBroad made a diving save midway through the opening 45 minutes, and USM senior Kat Rothe answered with a terrific save on a shot by PSU senior Sam Laliberte with 10 minutes on the clock.

            The Panthers got on the board less than a minute after the opening whistle of the second half when PSU was awarded a penalty kick.  Saltalamacchia took the honors and deposited her third goal of the season into the back of the net.  Davis added the insurance goal when she collected a loose ball on the left side and drove a ball over the keeper into the far corner for a 2-0 Panther margin.

            PSU finished with a total of 14 shots, while the defensive unit allowed only two shots by the Huskies.

            Plymouth State plays its fourth straight home game on Tuesday, hosting Gordon College at 4:30 in a non-conference clash.  Southern Maine plays a non-conference match Wednesday at Colby College.

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