DANBURY, Conn. – Sophomore Elle Moshier (Antrim, N.H.) scored a career-high five goals and was named Most Valuable Player as second-seeded Plymouth State University rallied from a two-goal deficit with less than three minutes to play to upset top-seeded Western Connecticut State University in overtime, 11-10, to capture the Little East Conference (LEC) Women's Lacrosse Tournament title at Westside Athletic Complex on Saturday.
 
Plymouth State played with the lead much of the contest and carried an 8-6 advantage into the fourth quarter, but the Wolves scored four straight times to leapfrog in front, 10-8, midway through the frame.
 
Senior Olivia Croke (Norwell, Mass.) made it a one-goal game with just under three minutes remaining, and classmate Emily Santom (Litchfield, N.H.) tied the game with 1:22 left on the clock.
 
Plymouth State won the opening draw in overtime and Moshier converted on the Panthers' fourth consecutive free position attempt to secure the title.
 
Plymouth State improves to 12-6 and wins its ninth LEC championship and its first since 2019. The Panthers will learn their NCAA Tournament matchup during the NCAA Selection Show which airs Monday (May 8) at 10:30 a.m. on NCAA.com.
 
WestConn ends the year with a 15-3 mark and sees its two-year run atop the conference come to an end.
   
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 11, WestConn 10
  • Plymouth State (12-6)
  • WestConn (15-3)

 
How it Happened:

• Moshier set an early tone with three straight goals to open the contest. She converted a pair of free position shots for a 2-0 lead after six minutes, then completed the first quarter hat trick with 2:28 left in the frame.
• The Wolves got one back with just over a minute remaining to make it 3-1 after one.
• WestConn scored back-to-back goals to pull even in the second, but senior Olivia Croke (Norwell, Mass.) countered with a free position goal and Moshier was at it again with 3:13 left before halftime to make it 5-3.
• WestConn answered late in the frame to pull within 5-4 at the half.
• The teams traded goals early in the third, with Croke burying a free position attempt before WestConn landed a counter punch as the Panthers held a 6-5 lead three minutes into the second half.
• The Wolves pulled even with 5:36 left in the third, but sophomore Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) answered just 30 seconds later to put PSU back in front and junior Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) made it an 8-6 lead to end the period.
• WestConn came out aggressively in the fourth, scoring twice in the first four minutes to even the score at 8-8. The hosts added two more goals to rally into the lead with 7:36 left to play.
• Time was running out for the Panthers, but Croke's free position goal with just under three minutes to go made it a one-goal game and Moshier hit Santom with a perfect feed for a quick shot to tie the game with 1:22 to play.
• Plymouth State won the opening draw and controlled possession into the overtime period. The Panthers were awarded four straight free position shots and Moshier buried the final one to send PSU to the NCAA Tournament.

By the Numbers:

• Moshier set new career highs in goals (five) and points (seven) to capture MVP honors.
• Croke finished with three goals, all on free position attempts.
• Senior Autumn Nelson (Weare, N.H.) recorded game highs of four ground balls and three caused turnovers.
• Both teams fired 24 shots in the contest.
• PSU went 14-for-15 in clears, while the Wolves were a perfect 15-for-15.
• Plymouth State was awarded 15 free position attempts and scored on seven of them. Moshier was 4-of-5, while Croke made all three of her attempts.
• WestConn had won the previous five meetings by an average margin of nearly eight goals.
• The Panthers' nine LEC Tournament titles are easily the most in the conference. Keene State is second with five.

   
Up Next:

• Plymouth State will learn its fate for the NCAA Tournament during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday (May 8) at 10:30 a.m. on NCAA.com.

 
 
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