Box Score Panthers capture sixth straight triumph
DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Plymouth State University scored three consecutive goals to start the third period and went on to defeat the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Saturday afternoon, 9-7,
in Little East Conference action at Cressy Field.
The teams were tied at 2-2 after one quarter, and deadlocked at 5-5 at halftime. PSU's surge in the third quarter included two goals by sophomore Colin Claflin (Pembroke, Mass.) and one by C.J. Frates (Merrimack, N.H.).The Panthers went on to their sixth straight victory, improving to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the LEC, while the Corsairs fall to 3-7 on the season and 0-2 in conference play.
Claflin led the PSU offensive attack with three goals, while Frates and senior Aaron Boss (Keene, N.H.) registered a pair of scores each and junior Ryan Garland (Franklin, Mass.) and sophomore Alex Croatti (Brunswick, Maine) each found the back of the cage in the win.
UMD received seven goals from seven different student-athletes on the day. Juniors Bo Prozinski (Ashland, Mass.) and Andrew Johnson (Hopkinton, Mass.) each recorded a score and dished out an assist, while Tyler Prentice (Chelmsford, Mass.), Patrick Lucas (Brookfield, Mass.), Sean Peters (Medway, Mass.), DJ Miller (Ashland, Mass.) and Riley Baxter (Groton, Mass.) all cracked the scoring column for the Corsairs.
To open the contest, both teams lit up the scoreboard twice to take a 2-2 tie into the second quarter. After Croatti gave the visitors a one goal advantage, Prentice and Prozinski recorded consecutive strikes to swing the lead back over to UMass Dartmouth, 4-3. The Panther once again tied the contest when Garland put home a shot off a feed from teammate Andy Ripley (South Paris, Maine) with 5:55 remaining before the intermission. In the following minute, Prozinksi connected with Peters for a 5-4 lead, however Boss beat the net minder in the final minute of the first half to deadlock the game at five-all.
The third quarter is where Plymouth State produced three consecutive goals to separate itself from the Corsairs. The Panthers doubled the amount of shot attempts produced by UMass Dartmouth in the quarter and limited the Corsairs to only five shot attempts. Baxter managed to find the back of the net with 45 seconds left in the third to keep the home team within striking distance with only 15 minutes left in regulation.
Boss added his second goal of the contest early in the fourth to increase the Panther's advantage, 9-6. Miller cut the deficit down to two scores when he registered a man-up goal with just over four minutes left before the final horn.
Sophomore Matt Lafond (Bridgewater, Mass.) stopped nine shot attempts for the Corsairs, while senor Chris St. George (Marblehead, Mass.) reached double digits saves and captured his seventh win in net this year for Plymouth State.
UMD will return to action at 7 p.m. on Wednesday when the Corsairs host Mass.-Maritime. The Panthers return to play at 4 p.m. on Wednesday when they travel to New England College.
(Courtesy of UMass Dartmouth Sports Information)
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