BOSTON, Mass. – Junior
Crosby Fay (Waterville Valley, N.H.) capped a remarkable season with another five-goal game, but second-seeded University of Massachusetts Boston was able to stave off third-seeded Plymouth State University, 14-11, in the semifinal round of the Little East Conference (LEC) Men's Lacrosse Tournament at James Cotter Field on Thursday afternoon.
Fay poured in five goals to finish the season with 62 tallies, the second most in a season in school history.
It was Fay's lone assist, though, to senior
Jake Dolcimascolo (Georgetown, Mass.) that tied the game at 10-10 with less than 90 seconds remaining in the third period. UMass Boston would score the next four goals, though, including three straight in the fourth quarter to pull ahead and the Panthers could not rally.
Plymouth State ends the season with a 14-4 mark, establishing a new program record for wins and advancing to the semifinal round for the 17th time in 22 years. UMass Boston improves to 12-6 and will visit top-seeded WestConn for the title game on Saturday (May 6).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 11, UMass Boston 14
- Plymouth State (14-4)
- UMass Boston (12-6)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers kept pace with the high-flying UMass Boston offense from the start. The Beacons opened the scoring at the 12:12 mark of the opening frame, but senior Mike Fleury (Lebanon, N.H.) answered right back and Fay's first goal of the game put PSU in front.
- The Beacons responded with back-to-back goals, but Fay found the back of the cage in the final minute to tie the game at 3-3.
- Junior Ryan Hanlon (Hull, Mass.) gave Plymouth State the lead to start the second quarter, but the Beacons answered with five straight scores to seemingly take control.
- The Panthers began to chip away, though. Junior Nolan Burke (Worcester, Mass.) and Fay went back-to-back and after a UMB goal, Fleury had the answer to pull within 9-7 at the half.
- PSU scored three of the first four goals in the third to even things at 10-10. Fay opened the spurt, but the Beacons responded to take it 10-8. Fay made it a one-goal and Dolcimascolo tied the game with 1:26 left in the quarter.
- The hosts took the lead for good in the final seconds. UMass Boston scored the first three goals of the fourth quarter to pull away, before freshman Cam Jenkins (Shrewsbury, Mass.) accounted for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Fay finished with five goals and an assist. His 62 season goals are the second-most in school history.
- Sophomore Matt Miner (Chelmsford, Mass.) had a career-high five assists.
- Fleury chipped in a pair of goals, while Burke also had a multi-point game with a goal and an assist.
- Sophomore Aiden O'Loughlin (Londonderry, N.H.) led the team with five ground balls, while junior Jack Bonazzoli (Clinton, Mass.) and sophomore Zach Gilvar (Stratham, N.H.) added three apiece.
- Junior Owen McNichols (Manchester, N.H.) finished with 16 saves. He ends the year with a 13-4 mark, establishing a new record for goalie wins in a season.
- UMass Boston won the regular season meeting in Plymouth by a 21-6 score.
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