PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Seniors
Sarah Hicks (Sutton, Mass.) and
Mallory Lloyd (Hartland, Vt.) each scored and Plymouth State University controlled play from start to finish as the Panthers topped New England College, 2-0, in women's soccer action at Arold Field on Wednesday afternoon.
PSU outshot the Pilgrims by a 13-2 margin in the opening half, but after 45 minutes of play the teams were deadlocked in a scoreless game.
Hicks converted a penalty kick in the 47th minute to put the Panthers on the board and Lloyd added a score on a free kick from just outside the box for the season opening victory.
Plymouth State begins the year at 1-0-0, while NEC falls to 0-1-0.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, New England College 0
- Plymouth State (1-0-0)
- New England College (0-1-0)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- Lloyd blasted six shots in the first half alone as the Panthers kept consistent pressure on the NEC defense. She nearly scored in the third minute on a shot from 20-yards out from the left side, but NEC senior goalkeeper Emily Sashko (Dunmore, Pa.) touched the shot over the crossbar.
- Seven minutes later Lloyd intercepted a pass at midfield and broke away alone, but Sashko sprawled to her right to keep the game scoreless.
- Senior Emily Geyselaers (Cornwall Bridge, Conn.) made a long run along the right touchline and sent a cross to Lloyd in the 14th minute, but the redirect attempt went just wide.
- PSU took the lead in the 47th minute when freshman Leah Maheux (Greene, Maine) was fouled in the box and Hicks' shot to the bottom right snuck underneath Sashko.
- Lloyd capped the scoring on a free kick from just outside the 18 that went over the wall and off Sashko's hands to the left post.
By the Numbers:
- Plymouth State held a 29-3 advantage in shots and earned eight corner kicks to NEC's two.
- Lloyd's 28 career goals are tied for the sixth-most in program history.
- Senior goalkeeper Cat Robbins (Franklin, Mass.) was forced to make just one save to pick up the shutout victory.
- Sashko's 16 saves were easily a career best.
- Plymouth State improves to 7-1-2 in the last ten meetings between the two teams.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State heads to the University of Maine Farmington on Saturday (Sept. 4) for a 3:30 p.m. contest against the Beavers.
- The Pilgrims visit Clarkson on Saturday.
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