DANBURY, Conn. – Third-seeded Western Connecticut State University used a ten-goal third quarter to break open a back-and-forth game and knock off sixth-seeded Plymouth State University, 22-10, in the first round of the Little East Conference (LEC) men's lacrosse tournament at the Westside Athletic Complex on Tuesday afternoon.
The teams traded blows throughout the first quarter with neither team gaining more than a two-goal advantage. Plymouth State trailed just 8-6 at the half, but WestConn scored the first three goals of the third quarter, then closed the frame with a run of seven unanswered tallies to seize control.
The Panthers attempted to rally in the fourth, as senior
Riley Roy (Laconia, N.H.) and junior
Mike Fleury (Lebanon, N.H.) contributed to a 3-0 surge, but the hosts recovered to close out the win.
Plymouth State ends its season with a 6-11 mark, while the Wolves improve to 14-3 and advance to face second-seeded Keene State College in one semifinal game on Thursday (May 5).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 10, WestConn 22
- Plymouth State (6-11)
- WestConn (14-3)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- The upset-minded Panthers roared out of the gates as sophomore Crosby Fay (Waterville Valley, N.H.) had a hand in the first two goals, scoring his 47th of the year in the opening minute before assisting on a tally by classmate Nolan Burke (Worcester, Mass.) just 48 seconds later.
- WestConn weathered the storm with back-to-back goals late in the quarter to tie the game.
- The Wolves pulled ahead 29 seconds into the second quarter, but freshman Ryan Jones (Tolland, Conn.) answered to square the game at 3-3.
- The teams continued to trade goals, as sophomore Jack Bonazzoli (Clinton, Mass.) and junior Nick Drew (Chelmsford, Mass.) each found the back of the cage to erase one-goal deficits.
- WestConn closed the half with a 3-1 spurt, however, as the hosts took an 8-6 lead into halftime.
- The hosts scored three straight to open the third quarter. Burke momentarily stopped the momentum with his second of the afternoon, but WestConn exploded for seven unanswered scores to pull away.
- Roy and Fleury helped cut into the deficit to open the fourth with Roy scoring twice around a Fleury tally, but the Wolves recovered to close out the win.
By the Numbers:
- Burke and Roy each scored twice, while Fay, Drew, Jones and Fleury all tallied a goal and an assist.
- Freshman Leif Charbonneau (North Grafton, Mass.) grabbed a team-best seven ground balls, with Burke adding four and freshman Zach Gilvar (Stratham, N.H.) chipping in three.
- Four different players registered a caused turnover for the Panthers.
- Plymouth State held a 31-29 edge in ground balls and was successful on 18-of-19 clear attempts.
- Sophomores Jessy Hirwa (Penacook, N.H.) and Owen McNichols (Manchester, N.H.) combined for five saves.
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