PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Maddie Hunt (Acton, Mass.) paced Plymouth State University with five goals to boost the Panthers past Salem State, 18-0, in a non-conference women's lacrosse game at Panther Field on Saturday afternoon.
After an early yellow card against the Vikings, Hunt made a push for the cage and smashed in the first goal of the game. The Panthers never let up from there, as they made a 5-0 run to close out the first quarter.
Hunt poured in two more goals in the second before junior
Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) completed a hat trick with three straight tallies as the score ballooned to 11-0 at the half.
Hunt sniped her final two goals of the day in the third quarter, while senior
Sarah Schartner (Plymouth, N.H.) bombarded the Vikings in the fourth with three goals of her own, including a last-minute shot past the opposing goaltender to account for the final score.
Plymouth State remains hot, moving to 3-0 on the season, while Salem State loses its second straight to start the year at 0-2.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 18, Salem State 0
- Plymouth State (3-0)
- Salem State (0-2)
How it Happened:
- Hunt jumpstarted the Panthers, taking advantage of the early Vikings' yellow card. From there, senior Amelia Thomas (Hopkinton, N.H.) snagged her first two goals, while sophomore Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) and senior Olivia Croke (Norwell, Mass.) added one apiece to start the game up 5-0.
- Hunt ramped up with back-to-back goals in the second quarter, followed by sophomore Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) with her first. Gaspa went on a roll from there with three consecutive goals to continue the rampage as the hosts took an 11-0 advantage into halftime.
- Plymouth State never let off the gas as Hunt capped her destructive outing with two more shots to the back of the cage, while Stowell launched her second. Junior Tarryn O'Brien (Weymouth, Mass.) got into the action to push the margin to 15-0 after three.
- Sophomore Margie Black (Longmeadow, Mass.) and junior Piper Sherbert (Freeport, Maine) nabbed key saves int eh second and third quarters to ensure the Panthers maintained their extravagant lead over Salem State.
- Schartner shut the door with three additional goals in the fourth period and the Plymouth State defense didn't flinch as PSU walked away with the 18-0 shutout win.
By the Numbers:
- Plymouth State held a sizable advantage in shots, 42-7.
- Hunt had a career-high five goals, while Gaspa notched her first hat trick.
- Donovan led the team with five assists to finish with a game-high six points.
- Plymouth State was efficient on clears, converting 12-of-14 attempts, while the PSU defense limited the Vikings to just 7-of-26.
- Thomas, Donovan, Gaspa and senior Jalen Cook (Monkton, Vt.) all recorded three caused turnovers apiece.
- Plymouth State won 13 draw controls to the Vikings' six.
- The Panthers scored on 5-of-8 free position opportunities.
- PSU improves to 7-1 against the Vikings. The Panthers' last shutout win also came against Salem State during the 2019 season.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State heads to Waterville, Maine on Monday (Mar. 13) to square off against #7 Colby. Opening draw is set for 6:00 p.m.
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