PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The best five-game start to a Plymouth State University men's soccer team in nearly 20 years came to an end on Tuesday night when the Panthers fell to Johnson & Wales University, 3-0, in non-conference action at Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex.
Plymouth State, which had opened the year with a five-game unbeaten streak, fell behind in the 13th minute and was unable to make up ground as the Wildcats doubled the lead late in the first half before adding an insurance tally in the 58th minute.
Junior
Nicolas Cornejo (Durham, N.H.) made five saves in the setback.
PSU goes to 4-1-1, while Johnson & Wales improves to 5-1-2.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, JWU 3
- Plymouth State (4-1-1)
- JWU (5-1-2)
How it Happened:
- The Wildcats brought pressure right from the start, earning four corners in the opening ten minutes. JWU broke through in the 13th minute when the Panthers' defense blocked an initial shot, but the rebound was drilled into the open net.
- Sophomore David Nilsson (Karlstad, Sweden) had a chance at the equalizer in the 21st minute but was denied by the Wildcats' goalkeeper.
- The hosts doubled the lead late in the half. With less than two minutes before halftime a ball through the defense led to a shot to the top right corner to make it 2-0.
- Nilsson's blast in the 53rd minute sailed wide, and Johnson & Wales tacked on an insurance goal in the 58th minute when a cross from the left side snuck past the PSU back line and was knocked in on the far post.
- Sophomore Sondre Asheim (Klepp, Norway) and junior Faisal Abdallah (Concord, N.H.) had chances late, but both times the JWU goalie came up with the stop.
By the Numbers:
- JWU held an 8-3 edge in shots on goal.
- Plymouth State had a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks in the second half.
- Cornejo finished with five saves.
- Johnson & Wales improves to 4-0-0 against the Panthers with all four meetings coming since the 2017 season. Two of the games were decided in overtime.
Up Next:
- The Panthers face their biggest test of the season on Saturday (Sept. 24) when the team heads to UMass Boston for a Little East Conference (LEC) showdown with the Beacons. Opening kick is set for 12:00 p.m.
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