PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior Natalie Perry (Conway, N.H.) scored twice and Plymouth State University rallied from a first half deficit to top Eastern Connecticut State University, 2-1, in a Homecoming Weekend, Little East Conference (LEC) field hockey contest at Panther Field on Friday night.
 
Despite some early chances for the Panthers, Eastern Connecticut took the lead in the second quarter when Brianna Nolan (Watertown, Conn.) scored on a penalty stroke. Perry would even the score late in the third quarter with a long shot that got through traffic off a penalty corner, and the senior struck again in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.
 
Alumna Lilly Silva '06 was officially inducted into the LEC Hall of Fame during a halftime ceremony. Silva, a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2020, remains the program's all-time leading scorer with 66 goals and 155 points.
 
Plymouth State (5-3, 3-2 LEC) hands Eastern Connecticut (5-2, 3-1 LEC) its first conference loss of the season.
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 2, Eastern Connecticut 1
  • Plymouth State (5-3, 3-2 LEC)
  • Eastern Connecticut (5-2, 3-1 LEC)

Top Performers:

• Natalie Perry (2 goals, 5 shots)
• Taylor Healey (13 shots)
• Kayla Antonucci (4 saves)

How it Happened:

• The Panthers had an early opportunity in the first quarter when sophomore Taylor Healey (Campton, N.H.) fired a ball to classmate Athena Comeau (Rutland, Mass.) at the far post, but Comeau's redirect went just wide.
• Perry just missed to the near side on a blast off a penalty corner early in the second quarter.
• The Warriors had a similar chance midway through the second. Sydney Collentine (New Fairfield, Conn.) had a shot go wide and Bryce Makula (Guilford, Conn.) was alone on the back post for a tip-in opportunity but was unable to get her stick on the ball.
• The Warriors broke through with just under five minutes left in the first half on a penalty stroke. Nolan lifted a shot just over the outstretched arm of PSU's sophomore goalkeeper Kayla Antonucci (Windham, N.H.) for the 1-0 lead.
• Plymouth State dominated play in the second half, picking up multiple corners but the Panthers were unable to convert until Perry finally got PSU on the board ten minutes into the third quarter. Comeau inserted a ball to Perry on the right side of the shooting circle and her blast made it through traffic and into the cage to even the game at 1-1.
• PSU kept the offensive pressure on, forcing ECSU goalie Sarah Gallagher (South Windsor, Conn.) into a number of difficult stops.
• Just under four minutes into the final stanza, Comeau inserted a corner to Healey on the nearside, whose shot was kicked aside by Gallagher. Perry was there for the rebound and on the third attempt she was finally able to get the ball past Gallagher for the game-winner.

By the Numbers:

• Plymouth State held a 24-9 advantage in shots and had a 16-2 edge in penalty corners.
• The Panthers held Eastern Connecticut without a shot for the entire second half.
• Perry's two goals were a career high. She has three tallies in the last three games and now leads the team with three goals, three assists and nine points.
• Healey's 13 shots were nearly triple her previous high of five.
• Antonucci finished with four saves to improve to 4-3. Gallagher was the tough-luck loser with a career-high 15 saves.
• The teams have split the last eight meetings.

Up Next:

• Plymouth State heads to Castleton University on Wednesday (Oct. 6, 7:00 p.m.) for an LEC clash with the Spartans.