BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. – Junior
Jessy Hirwa (Concord, N.H.) made three huge saves in the final 45 seconds and classmate
Crosby Fay (Waterville Valley, N.H.) poured in seven goals as Plymouth State University held off Mass. Maritime Academy, 13-12, in a key Little East Conference (LEC) men's lacrosse game at Clean Harbors Stadium on Friday night.
Fay scored twice in the opening period and PSU tallied three goals in the final six minutes of the frame for a 5-2 lead. PSU extended the margin to 8-4 at the half, but Mass. Maritime used a 4-1 surge to start the third quarter to pull within one, 9-8. The Panthers scored twice late in the frame, with Fay burying his seventh of the night, for an 11-8 lead going to the final quarter.
Plymouth State extended the margin to 13-9, but the hosts chipped away and a man-up goal made it 13-12 with just 1:13 remaining. The Buccaneers controlled the ensuing faceoff and stayed on the attack as the clock wound down, but Hirwa, who had entered the game as a substitute just 17 seconds prior, made three dynamic saves as the Panthers held on for the win.
Plymouth State improves to 10-3 (3-2 LEC) on the year, reaching double-digit wins for the first time since the 2015 season, while the Buccaneers slide to 4-6 and 1-3 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 13, Mass. Maritime 12
- Plymouth State (10-3, 3-2 LEC)
- Mass. Maritime (4-6, 1-3 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The Buccaneers wasted little time as they jumped in front after just seven seconds of action, but Fay answered right back 40 seconds later to knot the score at 1-1.
- Senior Mike Fleury (Lebanon, N.H.) gave PSU the lead midway through the frame, but the hosts answered to tie the game at 2-2.
- PSU bounced right back with a 4-0 run over the next 10 minutes. Fay put the Panthers ahead, and sophomore Matt Miner (Chelmsford, Mass.) and senior Jake Dolcimascolo (Georgetown, Mass.) both scored before the end of the first, then Fay added another early in the second for a 6-2 advantage.
- Mass. Maritime buried back-to-back goals to cut into the deficit, but Fay scored twice in the final 2:12 for an 8-4 advantage at the half.
- The Buccaneers regrouped during the break, using a 4-1 run to pull within 9-8 with five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
- Plymouth State closed the frame strong, though, as Miner and Fay made it an 11-8 advantage.
- Mass. Maritime scored a man-up goal just 15 seconds into the fourth, but junior Nolan Burke (Worcester, Mass.) and senior Karl Flinter (Pittsburgh, Pa.) countered with goals as PSU looked to be in good shape with a 13-9 lead and 6:32 left to play.
- The Buccaneers didn't back down, though, using a pair of goals just five seconds apart to make it 13-11.
- Junior Owen McNichols (Manchester, N.H.), who had made seven saves as the starting goalie, was flagged for a penalty with 1:50 left to play and Mass. Maritime converted the man-up chance to pull within 13-12.
- The hosts controlled the faceoff and took a timeout to plan the attack, but Hirwa came up with three incredible saves as PSU held on for the key win.
By the Numbers:
- Fay poured in seven goals and has scored 16 times over the last three games.
- Miner added two goals and two assists, while Dolcimascolo, Burke and Fleury all registered a goal and an assist.
- Senior Nick Drew (Chelmsford, Mass.) ran the offense with a season-high four assists.
- Sophomore Leif Charbonneau (Grafton, Mass.) scooped up eight ground balls, while sophomore Joey Loeber (Chelmsford, Mass.) chipped in four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
- McNichols picked up the win with seven saves over the first 58:10, while Hirwa played the hero in the final minutes with his three saves.
- Plymouth State has controlled the all-time series by going 12-2 against the Buccaneers.
- PSU's 10 wins are two shy of the program record. The Panthers have three regular season games remaining.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hosts Castleton on Wednesday (Apr. 19) for a Senior Night contest with the Spartans. Opening faceoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
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