PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Freshman
Matt Miner (Chelmsford, Mass.) and junior
Mike Fleury (Lebanon, N.H.) each notched hat tricks, but unbeaten Wheaton College scored four straight fourth quarter goals to rally past Plymouth State University, 10-9, in a non-conference men's lacrosse tilt Monday afternoon at Panther Field.
The Lyons came out of the first quarter with a 2-1 lead, but Fleury cut across the defense to launch the equalizer past the visiting goaltender in the first minute of the second. From there, Miner sparked his performance with an impressive no-look to put the Panthers up 4-3.
The duo would keep up the offense and each score twice more to help the Panthers to a 9-6 lead with 7:36 left in the game. The Lyons rallied, though, ramping up the offence and controlling possession during a four-goal comeback to sneak away with the 10-9 win.
Plymouth State falls to 1-3, while Wheaton remains unbeaten with a 7-0 record.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 9, Wheaton 10
- Plymouth State (1-3)
- Wheaton (7-0)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- Junior Karl Flinter (Pittsburgh, Pa.) got the scoring started with a long-range snipe to the back of the cage to get the Panthers off to a 1-0 lead.
- The Lyons responded with two scores late in the first quarter to go ahead, 2-1.
- Fleury started his explosive day with a quick strike in the second frame to tie the game.
- After Wheaton broke the tie midway through the quarter, the Panthers went on a scoring rampage beginning with senior Riley Roy (Laconia, N.H.) just a minute later to close the half tied at 3-3.
- Miner and sophomore Nolan Burke (Worcester, Mass.) teamed up for consecutive goals to put the home team ahead, 5-3.
- Wheaton cut the deficit to one, but Miner punched in a last second goal with less than a second remaining on the game clock as the Panthers took a 6-4 advantage into the fourth quarter.
- Fleury scored twice in the first half of the final quarter, sandwiched around a Wheaton goal, to complete the hat trick and give Plymouth State an 8-5 lead.
- The Lyons scored again, but Miner answered just 13 seconds later to restore the three-goal advantage with 7:36 remaining.
- Wheaton turned up the pressure from there, scoring four straight and holding the Panthers off the scoreboard to steal the 10-9 win.
By the Numbers:
- Plymouth State was outshot by a narrow 39-33 margin.
- Sophomore Owen McNichols (Manchester, N.H.) had a career-high 16 saves.
- The Panthers went 15-8 on faceoffs, with sophomore Leif Charbonneau (North Grafton, Mass.) winning 13 of them.
- Plymouth State compiled 10 caused turnovers, with seniors Mark Iamele (Georgetown, Mass.) and Mitchell Prive (Hampton, N.H.) leading the team with two apiece.
- Wheaton went 1-for-2 on man-up attempts, while holding the Panthers scoreless in seven attempts.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State remains at home on Wednesday (Mar. 16) for a non-conference battle with Plattsburgh State.
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