PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Freshman
Emma Simkewicz (Westminster, Mass.) scored her first career goal in the in the 63rd minute to lift Plymouth State University to a 2-1 win over Eastern Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's soccer game at Arold Field on Thursday afternoon.
PSU tallied the lone goal in the opening half, but the Warriors tied the score early in the second half. Simkewicz tapped in the game-winner after a free kick to earn the win on a blustery, frigid afternoon.
Celebrating Senior Day, Plymouth State recognized the Panthers' graduating senior class –
Dehlia Wright (Newport, Vt.),
Jenna Parsons (Windham, N.H.) and
Sofia Karlsson (Vaxjo, Sweden) – as well as senior co-captains
Jordan Meier (Holderness, N.H.) and
Mallory Lloyd (Hartland, Vt.), who expect to return next fall, in a brief on-field ceremony.
Plymouth State improves to 2-1 (2-1 LEC), while the Warriors end the day at 1-2 (1-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Eastern Conn. St. 1
- Plymouth State (2-1, 2-1 LEC)
- Eastern Conn. St. (1-2, 1-1 LEC)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- A gusting wind and occasional flurries contributed to the near-freezing temperatures, but both teams played aggressively to open the game.
- PSU earned a pair of corners and was able to capitalize on the second opportunity. Lloyd delivered a ball into the box that was flicked up by an Eastern Connecticut defender to the goalkeeper, but the ball slipped loose from her grip and Parsons was able to tap it into the bottom right corner in the 15th minute.
- The Panthers' lead would hold through the end of the first half.
- Eastern Connecticut had a golden opportunity in the 51st minute when a PSU clear attempt was misplayed right to a Warrior forward at the 18, but junior Elena Register (Helena, Ala.) made a brilliant save before diving on the loose ball to hold the lead.
- The Warriors pulled even just 31 seconds later, though, when a perfectly played ball over the top by junior Olivia Rovalino (Simsbury, Conn.) was run onto by classmate Haley Montesanto (East Haven, Conn.), who beat Register to the bottom right.
- Plymouth State regained the lead in the 63rd minute after a foul just outside the box led to a free kick for the Panthers. Lloyd lofted the ball into the box where freshman Ashley Plante (Concord, N.H.) headed it to Simkewicz on the post who tapped it in.
By the Numbers:
- ECSU held a 12-10 advantage in shots, while Plymouth State earned five corners to the Warriors' four.
- Register (1-1) finished the afternoon with six saves, one shy of her career high.
- Parsons' goal was her team-leading fourth of the spring. She also has a team-best nine points.
- The Warriors had won each of the last nine meetings between the two teams.
Up Next:
- The Panthers travel to Keene State on Saturday (Apr. 24) for an LEC match-up with the Owls at 1:00 p.m.
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