Bates posts shutout as Panthers win LEC opener

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Freshman keeper Alivia Bates (Pennsauken, N.J.) made 11 saves Saturday afternoon to lead Plymouth State University to a 5-0 victory over Worcester State University in the Little East Conference field hockey opener for both schools at rainy Arold Field.

            Plymouth State got goals from five different players to post the win. Senior Kristen Morris (Stoughton, Mass.) and freshman Lily Davis (Boscawen, N.H.) tallied first-half goals to stake the hosts to a 2-0 lead at the break, and senior Nikki Garvey (Canaan, N.H.), sophomore Kaitlyn Wilder (Framingham, Mass.) and senior Sam Carberry (Shrewsbury, Pa.) added second-half goals to secure the win.

            PSU improves to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the LEC, while Worcester State drops to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

            The Panthers got on the board in the 24th minute on Morris' first goal of the season, as she scored on a rebound after freshman goalie Kathryn Salemme (Boxboro, Mass.) had made two saves. Davis added her second of the season four minutes later, pushing a little dribbler past the goalie to make it 2-0.

            The score remained the same most of the second half until PSU tallied three goals in the final 12 minutes. Garvey scored on a rebound at the 58-minute mark after Lancer junior defender Megan Ripke (Feeding Hills, Mass.) made a defensive save on a shot by Wilder.  Wilder then scored on a rebound three minutes later, and Carberry rounded out the scoring with a shot from the top of the circle with 2:15 to play.

            PSU finished with a 15-11 advantage in shots.  Salemme totaled 10 saves in the Lancer goal.

            Plymouth State is back in action next Saturday with an LEC contest at Western Connecticut (10:00 a.m.). Worcester State plays at cross-city rival WPI Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. 

-- 30 --