PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Playing on Plymouth State University's new turf field for the first time, Eastern Connecticut State University topped the Panthers, 7-2, in Little East Conference (LEC) men's lacrosse action on Saturday afternoon.
The game was the first intercollegiate competition to take place on the new Panther Field. Prior to the contest, Plymouth State University President Donald L. Birx, Ph.D. and the team captains took part in a ceremonial faceoff.
Plymouth State drops to 1-1 overall (0-1 LEC), while Eastern Connecticut moves to 3-1 (1-0 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Eastern Conn. St. 7
- Plymouth State (1-1, 0-1 LEC)
- Eastern Conn. St. (3-1, 1-0 LEC)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- Moments after Eastern Connecticut took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter, junior Mark Iamele (Georgetown, Mass.) used a pretty shot fake to create space before splitting a pair of defenders to find the back of the cage for PSU's first goal.
- The Warriors added to the lead in the final seconds of the frame to carry a 3-1 advantage into the second quarter.
- ECSU capitalized on a man up opportunity and tallied two more goals in the second to pull ahead, 6-1.
- The visitors pushed the lead to 7-1 early in the third quarter before junior Riley Roy (Laconia, N.H.) countered with his team-leading fifth of the season.
- Neither team was able to score over the final quarter.
By the Numbers:
- Senior Robert Porter (Groveland, Mass.) stopped 17 shots, but fell to 1-1. He led the Panthers with six ground balls.
- Freshman Marc Hirshom (East Walpole, Mass.) scooped up five ground balls and contributed two caused turnovers, while sophomore Nick Drew (Chelmsford, Mass.) paced the team with three caused turnovers.
- ECSU held a 40-21 advantage in shots, while the Panthers won the ground ball battle 29-27.
Up Next:
- The two teams are scheduled to meet again, this time in a non-conference game, next Saturday (Apr. 3) in Connecticut at 2:00 p.m.
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