Lindeberg makes season high ten saves in LEC loss

            GORHAM, Maine – For the fourth time in seven contests the Plymouth State University men's soccer team played into overtime where the Panthers were tripped up by the University of Southern Maine, 2-1, in a Little East Conference (LEC) game at Hannaford Field on Saturday afternoon.

            Plymouth State rallied from a 1-0 deficit when junior Cam Bunn (Melbourne, Australia) and freshman Alyosha Westbrook (Los Angeles, Calif.) connected for a beautiful goal in the 85th minute, but junior Hany Ramadan (Portland, Maine) scored the game-winner in the 107th minute after a perfect pass led to a one-on-one with PSU sophomore goalkeeper Linus Lindeberg (Stockholm, Sweden).

            With the setback, PSU drops to 2-3-2 and 0-1-1 in league play, while Southern Maine improves to 2-5-1 and 1-1-0 in the LEC.

            The Basics:

            Plymouth State 1, Southern Maine 2 (2OT)

            Plymouth State 2-3-2, 0-1-1 LEC

            Southern Maine 2-5-1, 1-1-0 LEC

            How it Happened:

            * After a scoreless first half, Southern Maine struck early in the second to snag a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Benjamin Musese (Auburn, Maine) scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season after finishing a through ball from senior Sam Anderson (Middletown, Conn.).

            * The Panthers pulled even in the 85th minute. Bunn beat his defender from 30-yards out on the left wing, before sending a cross to the top of the six-yard box, where Westbrook one-timed it across the goal line.

            * USM had the best scoring opportunity for either team in the first overtime, but Lindeberg made a spectacular save to keep the game even.

            * The teams went back and forth through the second overtime, until the Huskies were able to put the game away late. Anderson won a ball at midfield, then lofted a pass over the top of the Panthers' defense to Ramadan, who was able to take one touch to get past a charging Lindeberg before flicking a shot into the open net.

            Inside the Numbers:

            * Lindeberg's ten saves were a season best and the second highest total of his career. He made 13 stops in a setback at UMass Boston last fall.

            * USM held the Panthers without a shot through the two overtime periods and held a slight 17-15 advantage for the game.

            * The Panthers four overtime games are already twice as many as last fall's total.

            * Dating back to 1986 the Panthers own a 24-8-2 mark against Southern Maine. USM broke a stretch of seven straight meetings without a win.

            Straight from the Coach's Mouth:

            "It was a very competitive game," said head coach Rob Wright. "We've got to learn to put some of our offensive chances away and do a better job of closing out games. The younger guys are learning that every team in the LEC is competitive and that we need to play for 90 minutes-plus every time out."

            Up Next:

            * The Panthers remain in LEC play on Wednesday (Sept. 26) when they travel to Rhode Island College for a 6:00 p.m. game.

            * Southern Maine hosts Bowdoin for a non-conference battle under the lights on Wednesday (Sept. 26). Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

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