WATERVILLE, Maine – Plymouth State University scored five times in the second quarter and trailed #12 Colby College by just four, 10-6, at the half, but the Mules used a strong second half to pull away for a 19-8 win in a non-conference women's lacrosse game at Bill Alfond Field on Monday night.
Despite coming in without a victory, Colby had already squared off against three nationally ranked programs, including two in the top five. The Mules raced out to a 7-1 lead after the first, but Plymouth State used a big second quarter to cut into the deficit as the hosts took a slight, 10-6 advantage into halftime.
Colby took control in the second half, though, to hand the Panthers their first loss of the young season.
Plymouth State suffers its first setback of the year to dip to 3-1, while the Mules go to 1-3.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 8, #12 Colby 19
- Plymouth State (3-1)
- #12 Colby (1-3)
How it Happened:
- The hosts raced out to a 4-0 lead over the first five minutes, but sophomore Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) stopped the spurt with her ninth goal of the season.
- Colby answered back just 20 seconds later and added to the margin to take a 7-1 advantage after one.
- Senior Emily Santom (Litchfield, N.H.) opened the second period scoring after 3:49 of play.
- The hosts answered, but PSU ripped off four straight goals by four different players to cut the deficit to 8-6 with less than two minutes before halftime.
- Colby struck twice in the final minute to go into the break with a 10-6 advantage.
- The Mules started to pull away with three consecutive goals to open the third, until sophomore Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) converted during a player-up chance with 5:26 left in the frame.
- Colby added two more scores to lead 15-7 entering the final quarter.
- The teams traded goals, with Santom finding the back of the cage for her sixth of the season midway through the frame, and the Mules added three insurance tallies to close out the game.
By the Numbers:
- Stowell, Donovan and Santom each tallied a pair of goals, with Stowell adding an assist for a team high three points.
- Senior Amelia Thomas (Hopkinton, N.H.) scooped up a team-high four ground balls, while Stowell matched a game-high with nine draw controls.
- Freshman Margie Black (Longmeadow, Mass.) made a career high 11 saves, but suffered her first loss of the year.
- Colby held a 40-19 advantage in shots.
- Plymouth State was 10-for-16 in clears, while the Mules were 7-of-12 through the first three quarters until a perfect 7-for-7 in the fourth.
- PSU snagged 14 of 32 draw controls.
- Colby has won each of the last ten meetings.
Up Next:
- The Panthers remain in Maine to face Bates College on Wednesday (Mar. 15). Game time is set for 6:00 p.m.
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