Hicks, Siewierski score for Panthers in non-conference setback

            SALEM, Mass. – Freshmen Sarah Hicks (Sutton, Mass.) and Taylor Siewierski (Colebrook, N.H.) both scored late goals, but Plymouth State University fell to Salem State University, 4-2, in a non-conference women's soccer game under the lights on Wednesday night at Alumni Field.

            Salem State scored the game's first three goals, including a pair by sophomore Taylor Capozzi (Lynn, Mass.). The Panthers pulled to within one following goals from Hicks and Siewierski, but Vikings' junior Casey McFall (Wilmington, Mass.) added a key insurance goal in the 83rd minute and Salem State was able to put the game away.

            Plymouth State falls to 6-7-2 with the loss, while Salem improves to 5-10-0.

            The Basics:

            Plymouth State 2, Salem State 4

            Plymouth State 6-7-2

            Salem State 5-10-0

            How it Happened:

            * Capozzi and McFall worked a give-and-go play to set up Capozzi for a low shot in the 12th minute as the Vikings took a 1-0 lead.

            * Despite holding an 8-3 advantage in shots, the Panthers went into halftime trailing by the same score.

            * Vikings' senior Ashley Leboeuf (Dracut, Mass.) doubled the Salem State lead in the 65th minute when her shot found the left side of the net.

            * Just two minutes later Capozzi struck again as the hosts took a three goal lead.

            * PSU finally broke through in the 72nd minute when Hicks tallied her team-leading eighth goal with a soft touch.

            * With nine minutes to play, Siewierski floated a shot into the right side of the net off a deflection for her third goal of the season to pull the Panthers to within one.

            * McFall collected an insurance tally in the 84th minute and the Vikings held on for the win.

            Inside the Numbers:

            * Sophomore Jenna Parsons (Windham, N.H.) made seven saves for the Panthers, while her counterpart, senior Amanda Backe (Danvers, Mass.), had four stops for the Vikings.

            * Salem State finished with an 11-10 advantage in shots.

            * The two teams have been evenly matched throughout the series. PSU has gone 15-16-1 against the Vikings dating back to the 1988 season, and they've split the last six meetings.

            Up Next:

            * Plymouth State closes out the regular season with a Little East Conference game at Western Connecticut State on Saturday (Oct. 27) at 12:00 p.m.

            * Salem State heads to Westfield State in the MASCAC finale on Saturday (Oct. 27) at 7:00 p.m.

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