FITCHBURG, Mass. – Freshman Nolan McMann (Millville, Mass.) scored his first career goal in the 69th minute to lift Plymouth State University to a 1-0 win over Fitchburg State University in a non-conference men's soccer game at Elliot Field on Tuesday night.
 
McMann made a run down the middle of the field before playing a ball to sophomore Faisal Abdallah (Concord, N.H.) on the left. Abdallah made a single touch back to McMann alone in front, whose right-footed shot tucked inside the left post for the game's only score.
 
Plymouth State improves to 3-9-0, while the Falcons drop to 1-12-0.
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 1, Fitchburg State 0
  • Plymouth State (3-9-0)
  • Fitchburg State (1-12-0)

How it Happened:

• Fitchburg State nearly opened the scoring midway through the first half when the Falcons put a point-blank shot on target, but sophomore goalkeeper Nicolas Cornejo (Durham, N.H.) turned the shot aside.
• The Panthers' best opportunity of the half occurred in the 43rd minute of play as freshman August Westerholm (Stockholm, Sweden) fired a shot only to have the Falcon goalie make the save to preserve the 0-0 stalemate going into the break.
• Following the intermission, the Panthers took the lead at the 68:28 mark. McMann streaked down the middle of the field and Abdallah's feed perfectly split the Falcons' defense to set up McMann for his first collegiate tally.
• PSU continued to pressure the Fitchburg State defense the rest of the way, but the Falcons' keeper did not let another shot past him as the Panthers earned the 1-0 win.

By the Numbers:

• Plymouth State fired season-highs of 24 shots and 17 shots on goal while limiting the Falcons to just four shots on target.
• PSU earned four corner kicks while holding Fitchburg State without any.
• Cornejo made four saves for the Panthers.

Up Next:

• Plymouth State hosts Eastern Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference matchup on Saturday (Oct. 23) at 3:30 p.m.