PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Seniors
Taylor Healey (Campton, N.H.) and
Mackenzie Labrie (Canaan, N.H.) each scored twice and added an assist while classmate
Kayla Antonucci (Windham, N.H.) earned her second straight shutout to lead third-seeded Plymouth State University past sixth-seeded Western Connecticut State University, 4-0, in a Little East Conference (LEC) Tournament First Round game on Panther Field on Tuesday evening.
Plymouth State improves to 12-5 and advances to face second-seeded Keene State College in the semifinals on Thursday (Nov. 2) at 6:30 p.m. WestConn's season comes to a close with a 5-13 mark.
Healey got the Panthers on the board just 49 seconds into the contest for her 24th goal of the season. Later in the first quarter, Labrie doubled the lead when she redirected a blast off the stick of senior
Athena Comeau (Rutland, Mass.) to make it 2-0. PSU outshot the Wolves by a 10-4 margin in the first quarter and had a stranglehold on the game in the early stages.
Plymouth State kept up the offensive pressure in the second quarter, but the WestConn defense was up to the task until Labrie scored her second of the game for a 3-0 lead with less than four minutes remaining in the first half.
Late in the third quarter, Antonucci made a great save on a 2-on-0 rush to preserve the lead. Moments later, PSU had a rush of its own when Healey sent a ball up the middle to Labrie, who went on a rush with Comeau, but Labrie's pass eluded Comeau as the lead remained 3-0.
Healey scored her second of the game just 24 seconds into the fourth quarter when she buried a feed from Labrie to account for the final score. The PSU defense clamped down and didn't allow WestConn any possession in their end the rest of the way to secure the win.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, WestConn 0
- Plymouth State (12-5)
- WestConn (5-13)
How it Happened:
- Healey got the Panthers on the board just 49 seconds into the contest.
- Labrie doubled the lead later in the first when she redirected Comeau's blast from the top of the circle off a penalty corner.
- PSU pressured throughout the first and held a commanding 10-4 shots on goal advantage after one.
- The WestConn defense stood tall in the second quarter, holding PSU at bay.
- Late in the second, Labrie fired home her 13th of the year to extend the lead to 3-0.
- Antonucci made a great save on a 2-on-0 late in the third to preserve the Panthers' lead.
- Healey added her second of the night when she banged home a shot in the opening minute of the fourth quarter to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Healey notched her 24th and 25th goals of the season.
- Labrie added her first multi-goal game since Sept. 6.
- Antonucci posted her second straight shutout, and fourth of the year.
- PSU outshot the Wolves by a 33-8 margin, including 19-4 in shots on goal.
Up Next:
- Third-seeded Plymouth State visits second-seeded Keene State for semifinal action on Thursday (Nov. 2) at 6:30 p.m.
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