PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) scored a career-high five goals and second-seeded Plymouth State University used a strong third quarter to topple third-seeded University of Southern Maine, 11-8, in the semifinal round of the Little East Conference (LEC) Women's Lacrosse Tournament at Panther Field on Thursday evening.
The game was knotted at 4-4 at the half and 6-6 at the midpoint of the third quarter, but Donovan scored twice around a goal from sophomore
Maddie Hunt (Acton, Mass.) to take the lead for good.
Plymouth State improves to 11-6 and advances to the LEC Championship for the ninth straight year. Southern Maine ends the season with a 10-9 mark.
The Panthers visit top-seeded Western Connecticut State on Saturday (May 6), looking to upend the two-time defending champs.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 11, Southern Maine 8
- Plymouth State (11-6)
- Southern Maine (10-9)
How it Happened:
- Senior Emily Santom (Litchfield, N.H.) put the hosts in front three minutes into play, but the visitors answered with three straight goals to lead 3-1 early in the second period.
- PSU took advantage of a Huskies' yellow card as Donovan notched her first of the game, then added her second less than a minute later to tie the score at 3-3.
- Senior Amelia Thomas (Hopkinton, N.H.) put the Panthers in front with 1:43 left before the half, but USM answered with less than 20 seconds to play as the game went into the break deadlocked at 4-4.
- Sophomore Elle Moshier (Stratford, Conn.) and Hunt scored back-to-back goals in the first five minutes of the third as Plymouth State went ahead, 6-4. Southern Maine responded, though, scoring twice in a 40 second span to even the score at 6-6 with 7:30 left in the frame.
- Donovan restored the PSU lead just 21 seconds later, though, and the Panthers would stay in front the rest of the way.
- Moshier set up Hunt for a two-goal advantage and fed Donovan with 2:09 left in the third for a 6-9 lead.
- The teams traded goals in the fourth, with Thomas and Donovan finding the back of the cage for the Panthers, to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Donovan poured in a career-best five goals and added a caused turnover.
- Thomas and Hunt went for two goals and an assist each.
- Moshier also had a three-point game with a goal and two helpers. She chipped in three ground balls and a team-high two caused turnovers.
- Sophomore Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) snagged ten draw controls, while senior Autumn Nelson (Weare, N.H.) matched a game-high with three ground balls.
- Sophomore Margie Black (Longmeadow, Mass.) made ten stops.
- PSU owned a 35-29 edge in shots and went 17-for-21 on clear attempts.
- The Panthers maintained a slight 15-12 advantage in ground balls and committed just 13 turnovers to USM's 20.
- The Panthers have won 14-of-15 against the Huskies, though six of the last seven meetings have been decided by three goals or less.
- Plymouth State will play in the championship game for the ninth straight year. PSU is seeking its ninth tournament title and first since 2019. WestConn has won the last two LEC Tournament titles.
Up Next:
- The second-seeded Panthers square off against top-seeded WestConn in the championship game on Saturday (May 6) for the third straight time. Opening draw is set for noon. The Wolves have won each of the last five meetings.
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