LEWISTON, Maine – Plymouth State University trailed by just one late in the third quarter, but Bates College closed out the game with a 6-0 surge to top the Panthers, 14-7, in none-conference women's lacrosse action at Garcelon Field on Wednesday night.
The teams went back and forth in the early going. The Bobcats scored the final three goals of the first to take a 6-3 lead, but Plymouth State notched three of the four second period goals to trail by a slim, 7-6 margin at the half.
The hosts pushed the lead to 8-6 midway through the third, but sophomore
Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) countered with her 13th goal of the year to cut the deficit to 8-7 with just over six minutes left in the frame. The Bobcats took over from there, though, responding with another score to lead 9-7 heading into the fourth, before closing out the game with five fourth-quarter goals.
Plymouth State slips to 3-2, while Bates improves to 4-3.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 7, Bates 14
- Plymouth State (3-2)
- Bates (4-3)
How it Happened:
- Bates got on the board first after 1:24 of action, but senior Emily Santom (Litchfield, N.H.) answered right back a minute later to tie the score.
- The Bobcats tallied back-to-back goals midway through the frame, but against the Panthers answered. Donovan tallied her first of the night with 5:03 remaining, and senior Olivia Croke (Norwell, Mass.) tied the score less than 30 seconds later.
- The hosts scored three times in the final three-plus minutes to take a 6-3 lead into the second quarter.
- Bates increased the margin to 7-3 in the opening five minutes of the second, but Plymouth State bounced back, taking advantage of a pair of yellow cards to score two player-up goals. Croke found the back of the cage with 8:53 left in the half and Donovan added her second with six minutes left to trim the margin to 7-5.
- Senior Amelia Thomas (Hopkinton, N.H.) pulled the Panthers to within one, 7-6, with her tally in the closing seconds.
- Bates pushed the lead back to two, 8-6, midway through the third, but Donovan had the answer a minute later.
- The Bobcats took control from there, though, scoring the final six goals to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Donovan, who finished with team highs of three goals and four points, leads the Panthers with 13 goals and 21 points. She's found the back of the cage in every game this season.
- Croke scored twice, while Thomas and Santom all beat the Bobcats' goalie.
- Thomas snagged a game-high five ground balls, while Donovan and freshman Margie Black (Longmeadow, Mass.) added four apiece.
- Thomas, seniors Autumn Nelson (Weare, N.H.) and Julia Mahoney (Stratford, Conn.) and junior Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) all chipped in with two caused turnovers.
- Sophomore Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) led all players with eight draw controls.
- Plymouth State was 2-for-4 on free position attempts.
- Bates held a 34-21 advantage in shots, including a 14-1 margin in the fourth quarter.
- Each team scooped up 19 ground balls.
- Black made 12 saves in the setback.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State wraps up its run of three straight NESCAC opponents next week when the Panthers host #15 Bowdoin College on Tuesday (Mar. 21). Opening draw is set for 4:00 p.m.
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