PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Kayla Antonucci (Windham, N.H.) made 12 saves and classmate
Athena Comeau (Rutland, Mass.) forced overtime on a penalty corner as the fourth quarter expired, but the University of Southern Maine escaped with a 3-2 in over Plymouth State University in the final minute of overtime of a Little East Conference (LEC) field hockey game at Panther Field on Tuesday.
In what proved to be a defensive battle, neither team was able to muster much offense in the early going. USM struck first early in the second quarter and carried the 1-0 lead into halftime.
Late in the third quarter, the Panthers' pressure led to a penalty stroke and senior
Taylor Healey (Campton, N.H.) converted with a low shot to the stick side to even the score at 1-1 with just six seconds left in the frame.
USM pressured with a 2-on-1 rush midway through the fourth quarter, but junior
Jess Couture (Dover, N.H.) showed great speed to get back and break up the play. With 2:30 remaining in regulation, the Huskies' had a flurry of shots and got one past Antonucci to take the lead.
Plymouth State didn't back down, however, as the Panthers were awarded a penalty corner with just five seconds left in regulation. Freshman
Sarah Adamski (Windham, N.H.) inserted the ball to Healey, who slid it to Comeau and her blast at the buzzer found the back of the cage to send the game to overtime.
PSU started overtime strong with Comeau nearly beating the entire Huskies' defense, but the shot attempt sailed with. With 7:44 left in the extra frame, Antonucci made an amazing save on a USM penalty stroke to maintain the tie.
With less than a minute remaining in the extra session, a Southern Maine shot from the edge of the arc was deflected into the cage to close out the game.
Plymouth State slips to 7-5 (1-1 LEC), while Southern Maine moves to 11-6 and 4-0 in the LEC.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Southern Maine 3 (OT)
- Plymouth State (7-5, 1-1 LEC)
- Southern Maine (11-6, 4-0 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The game started as a back-and-forth defensive battle.
- Both teams exchanged scoring chances early, but neither mustered a shot on goal.
- USM broke through early in the second quarter for a 1-0 lead.
- PSU started the second half applying pressure but came up empty on multiple penalty corners.
- Late in the third, PSU missed a scoring chance but was awarded a penalty stroke.
- Healey buried it low to the stick side to even the score with six seconds remaining in the frame.
- With only 2:30 left in the third quarter the Huskies retook the lead.
- PSU kept the offensive pressure on and earned a penalty corner with five seconds left in regulation.
- Healey received the insertion pass and slid it to Comeau, who tied the game with her shot at the buzzer.
- PSU had some great chances early in the overtime but couldn't find the game winner.
- Antonucci made a huge save on a penalty stroke in the extra session.
- With only 47 seconds remaining, USM deflected a shot into the cage for the 3-2 win.
By the Numbers:
- Healey scored her 17th goal of the season and added an assist. She sits second in the LEC for both goals and points.
- Comeau notched her ninth goal of the year.
- Antonucci finished with 12 saves.
- Plymouth State outshot USM by a 16-13 margin in regulation.
- The Panthers took 12 penalty corners to USM's seven.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State travels to Framingham State on Thursday (Oct. 19) for a non-conference matchup at 7:00 p.m.
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