PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) scored her second hat trick in as many games and Plymouth State University outscored Saint Joseph's College of Maine by a 6-2 margin in the second half as the Panthers rallied for an 11-9 win in a non-conference women's lacrosse game at Panther Field on Wednesday afternoon.
The Panthers ramped up early with two scores, but St. Joe's responded with two of its own to begin a back-and-forth battle between the two teams. Senior
Amelia Thomas (Hopkinton, N.H.) broke the tie with a bouncing shot into the goal, but the Monks scored two straight for a 4-3 lead after one.
Donovan sparked the Panthers' offense with her first of the day with a wrap-around goal between defenders, but St. Joe's continued the pressure to close out the half with a 7-5 advantage.
Donovan gained momentum for the hosts to start the third as the Panthers' rally began with a rebound shot off a free position into the top corner and sophomore
Maddie Hunt (Acton, Mass.) tied the game late in the period.
The teams traded goals over the first ten minutes of the final stanza, but junior
Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) cut in for the game-winner with 3:18 remaining and Donovan tacked on an insurance goal just over a minute later to ensure the win.
Plymouth State jumps to 2-0 to start the season, while the Monks suffer their first defeat of the year to slip to 2-1.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 11, St. Joe's 9
- Plymouth State (2-0)
- St. Joe's (2-1)
How it Happened:
- Sophomore Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) and senior Olivia Croke (Norwell, Mass.) tag-teamed to begin the game with back-to-back scores as the Panthers took a 2-0 lead.
- After the Monks pulled even, Thomas punched in a goal from the left side, but the visitors answered with two scores to take a 4-3 lead into the second.
- Donovan made quick work to open the second as she snuck one to the back of the net to tie the game again.
- Saint Joseph's continued to push the Panthers back with three additional goals, but sophomore Elle Moshier (Stratford, Conn.) made a well-executed free position goal to keep PSU within range at halftime, trailing 7-5.
- Donovan and Hunt began the rally in the third quarter when both connected to the cage to tie the game at 7-7.
- Junior Tarryn O'Brien (Weymouth, Mass.) was explosive out of the gate, taking a feed and putting the ball immediately in for the tie-breaker, but the Monks came back for another score as the game remained in a stalemate.
- Thomas traded goals with the visitors after another success free position shot, but PSU went ahead for good when Gaspa and Donovan fired home two more scores to capture the 11-9 result.
By the Numbers:
- The Panthers held a slight 31-29 advantage in shots.
- Donovan now has seven goals through her first two games and has notched an assist in each.
- Plymouth State was successful on 11-of-14 clears, while the Monks cleared 16-of-25.
- Freshman Camryn Loomis (Seekonk, Mass.) and Stowell led the Panthers with three ground balls apiece, while Stowell added team highs of nine draw controls and three caused turnovers.
- Sophomore Margie Black (Longmeadow, Mass.) garnered five saves to improve to 2-0.
- PSU maintained the edge in draw controls, winning 16-of-24.
- This was the first meeting between the two teams.
Up Next:
- The Panthers return to action at home on Saturday (Mar. 11) with a noon contest against Salem State University.
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