BIDDEFORD, Maine – Senior
Jake Dolcimascolo (Georgetown, Mass.) scored three times and added a pair of assists to lead Plymouth State University to a win over the University of New England, 10-8, in the team's season opener at Blue Bolt Field on Monday evening.
Plymouth State was hot out of the gates, building a 3-0 lead through the first 2:25 of play. UNE raced back to tie the score, but a goal in the final minute gave the Panthers a 4-3 lead after one.
PSU outscored the Nor'easters by a 3-1 margin in the second quarter to extend the margin to 7-4, but the hosts pulled to within 8-7 through the completion of the third quarter.
Dolcimascolo buried a pair of goals in the final 15 minutes as Plymouth State was able to keep the Nor'easters at bay.
Plymouth State picks up a win in its season opener to start the year 1-0, while UNE falls to 1-2.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 10, UNE 8
- Plymouth State (1-0)
- UNE (1-2)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State opened with a barrage on the UNE defense with senior Mike Fleury (Lebanon, N.H.) netting the game's first goal just 38 seconds into play.
- Dolcimascolo followed with his first of the day less than a minute later and sophomore Matt Miner (Chelmsford, Mass.) made it 3-0 after just 2:25 of action.
- The Nor'easters rallied in the second half of the quarter to pull even, 3-3, with just over two minutes left, but junior Crosby Fay (Waterville Valley, N.H.) restored the lead with 16 seconds left on the clock for a 4-3 advantage after one.
- UNE evened the score early in the second quarter, but the Panthers answered with another three-goal run to go in front for good. Fay made it 5-4 midway through the second and junior Nolan Burke (Worcester, Mass.) scored his first of the year with 4:34 left before halftime. Fleury found the back of the cage 46 seconds later as PSU took a 7-4 lead into the locker room.
- The hosts turned the tables in the third quarter, outscoring the Panthers 3-1 to cut the margin to 8-7. Senior Nick Drew (Chelmsford, Mass.) had PSU's lone tally of the frame, a man-up goal.
- Dolcimascolo gave Plymouth State some breathing room with his second of the game 3:42 into the fourth quarter, but the Nor'easters wouldn't go quietly. UNE cut the lead back to 9-8 midway through the stanza, but Dolcimascolo had the answer once again to account for the final score with just under four minutes to play.
By the Numbers:
- Dolcimascolo led all players with his three goals, two assists and five points.
- Fay and Fleury each scored twice, while Burke, Miner and Drew all notched a goal and an assist.
- Senior Ian Gibbons (Billerica, Mass.) also picked up an assist for the Panthers.
- Sophomore Leif Charbonneau (Grafton, Mass.) scooped up a team-high six ground balls, while junior Marc Hirshom (East Walpole, Mass.) contributed four ground balls and a caused turnover.
- Sophomore Joey Loeber (Chelmsford, Mass.) had a game-high three caused turnovers.
- Junior Owen McNichols (Manchester, N.H.) made 16 saves in goal to pick up the win.
- UNE held a narrow 24-20 edge in shots on goal.
- Plymouth State was an efficient 20-of-25 in clears.
- PSU improves to 4-7 against the Nor'easters. The Panthers have won two-of-three meetings, though this was the first meeting since the 2020 season.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State heads to Norwich on Wednesday (Mar. 1) for a 6:00 p.m. clash with the Cadets.
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