PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Freshman
Adam Stelljes (Scituate, Mass.) scored his first career goal to lift Plymouth State University to a 1-0 win over Union College in non-conference men's soccer action at Arold Field on Saturday afternoon.
Union controlled the ball for most of the first half, but junior goalkeeper
Nicolas Cornejo (Durham, N.H.) made multiple crucial saves to keep the Dutchmen in check. Plymouth State put forth an offensive charge in the final few minutes before halftime but couldn't connect for a score.
Midway through the second half, Stelljes flashed his speed as he took a ball from midfield and drove it past two defenders and the Union goalkeeper for the game's lone goal.
Plymouth State continues its undefeated streak, moving to 3-0-1 on the year, while Union dips to 1-2-1.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, Union 0
- Plymouth State (3-0-1)
- Union (1-2-1)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- Cornejo made a key save in the sixth minute when a Union corner kick was targeted to the box, but his diving save kept the Dutchmen at bay.
- Union had offensive control of the ball throughout the first half, but PSU had two scoring chances in the final ten minutes of play with freshman Lucas Hollingworth (Akersberga, Sweden) just missing wide left and sophomore David Nilsson (Karlstad, Sweden) having his chance saved as the game went into the break deadlocked at 0-0.
- In the middle of the second half, Stelljes broke free into Union territory, getting around a double team, before scoring on an open net to snag a 1-0 lead.
- Junior Faisal Abdallah (Concord, N.H.) extended the Panthers' pressure, but his bid minutes later just missed the net.
- Sophomore Nolan McMann (Millville, Mass.) got into the action when a corner kick from sophomore Sondre Asheim (Klepp, Norway) landed at his feet, but McMann's shot was blocked.
- Abdallah made a long-range snipe to the top of the goal right after McMann in an attempt to seal the game, but the Union goalkeeper was able to get a fingertip on it to deflect it over the net.
- Union made a last-ditch effort in the final two minutes, but Cornejo, Abdallah and freshman Nils Skogestig (Saltsjo Boo, Sweden) moved Union's shot out of range from the goal to preserve the 1-0 win.
By the Numbers:
- Cornejo finished with five saves for the third straight game.
- Stelljes is the first PSU reserve to find the back of the net so far this season.
- Union held a 28-11 advantage in shots.
- The Panthers' nine goals over the first four games are most in the Little East Conference (LEC).
- The last time PSU was unbeaten through four games came in the 2009 season, when the team started 4-0-0.
- The only other meeting between the two teams came in the 1983 NCAA Regional Finals. PSU won that match by a 3-1 margin to advance to the national semifinals.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State looks to defend its home turf once again in the LEC opener against UMass Dartmouth next Saturday (Sept. 17) at 3:00 p.m.
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