PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Faisal Abdallah (Concord, N.H.) scored four goals and classmate
Nicolas Cornejo (Durham, N.H.) posted a clean sheet as Plymouth State University soared past Fisher College, 5-0, in non-conference men's soccer action at Arold Field on Thursday.
Abdallah scored the most goals in a game in at least 27 years to spark the PSU offense as Plymouth State was in control throughout. He opened the scoring in the 18th minute, then extended the lead to 2-0 after converting a penalty kick seven minutes later.
PSU continued to pressure in the second half with Abdallah completing the hat trick in the 49th minute before sophomore
August Westerholm (Stockholm, Sweden) outran a Fisher defender before his left-footed shot made it 4-0. Abdallah rounded out his career day in the 78th minute to complete the scoring.
Prior to the game Plymouth State honored its seniors,
Anton Friberg (Stockholm, Sweden) and
Eric Higgins (Peabody, Mass.), during a brief pregame ceremony.
Plymouth State wraps up its best season since 2015, finishing an even 7-7-3, while Fisher drops to 2-13-2.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 5, Fisher 0
- Plymouth State (7-7-3)
- Fisher (2-13-2)
How it Happened:
- After PSU came up short on several early scoring chances, Abdallah put the Panthers on the board in the 18th minute. Friberg sent a long feed from the PSU side of the field that freshman Lucas Hollingworth (Akersberga, Sweden) headed into the box. Abdallah raced past the defenders before beating the keeper to the bottom right corner.
- The Falcons first chance came in the 23rd minute when a Fisher forward got past the defense, but Cornejo came out to knock the ball away before a shot was taken.
- Abdallah notched his second of the day when he converted a penalty kick in the 25th minute.
- The Falcons had a free kick from 22 yards out in the 30th minute, but Cornejo got to the right post to deny the chance.
- Abdallah completed the hat trick less than four minutes into the second half when freshman Nils Skogestig (Saltsjo Boo, Sweden) delivered a cross from the right side and Abdallah's turnaround shot found the back of the goal.
- Westerholm pushed the advantage to 4-0 in the 58th minute when he pressured the Fisher defense on a goalie throw. Westerholm caused a turnover, then Hollingworth tapped the ball forward before Westerholm's left-footed boot tucked just inside the right post.
- Fisher nearly spoiled the shutout in the 60th minute when a ball over the top led to a 2-on-0 break, but again Cornejo came out to spoil the chance.
- Abdallah was back at it again in the 78th minute. Sophomore Walter Driscoll (Kittery Point, Maine) delivered a long ball over top and Abdallah wrestled past the Falcons' defender before sliding a shot past the goalkeeper. Fisher argued for an offsides, but after a brief discussion between the referee and assistant referred, the goal was confirmed.
- Fisher's final chance to spoil the shutout came in the final seven minutes, but freshman Griffin Gamache (West Lebanon, N.H.) made a clean sliding tackle to disrupt the initial break and Cornejo followed with a save to preserve the clean sheet.
By the Numbers:
- Abdallah's four goals were the most in a game since at least 1995. He finishes the season with 12 goals – the most in a season since 2008 – and 25 points.
- Hollingworth had a pair of assists to finish the year with four assists and 10 points, while Westerholm had a goal and an assist on the day.
- Friberg and Skogestig also recorded assists in the win.
- Cornejo posted eight saves, his second highest total of the season, to post his fourth shutout of the year.
- PSU held a 26-14 advantage in shots and 7-5 edge in corners.
- Plymouth State finishes with its best record in seven years.
- This was the first meeting between the two schools.
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