PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University men's soccer team started its season with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the New England College Pilgrims at Arold Field Friday evening.
Junior
Sondre Asheim (Klepp, Norway) opened the scoring on a penalty kick which saw the Panthers enter halftime with a 1-0 lead. The Pilgrims scored on a second attempt off a corner to tie the game in the 54th minute. Senior
Faisal Abdallah (Pembroke, N.H.) led Plymouth State with six shots, including a bent ball that rocketed off the post late in the game for what would have been the game winner.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Parker Spaulding (Barre, Vt.) recorded four saves including an outstretched tip over the bar to prevent NEC, an NCAA Tournament participant last fall, from taking the lead.
Plymouth State starts its season at 0-0-1, as New England College also begins its campaign at 0-0-1.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, New England College 1
- Plymouth State (0-0-1)
- New England College (0-0-1)
How it Happened:
- PSU started fast, notching four shots in the opening 15 minutes, putting NEC under pressure from the get-go.
- The Panthers took a 1-0 lead after a penalty was given, as Asheim comfortably converted the kick from the spot to the goalkeeper's left side.
- PSU came close to taking a 2-0 lead right at halftime as a shot by freshman Vince Cassarino (Tolland, Conn.) was destined for the low corner before the outstretched keeper got a finger on it to make the save.
- The Pilgrims tied the game at 1-1 in the 54th minute after a skipped header landed on the back side of the box and NEC was able to get on the end of a cross that landed inside the goalie area.
- Plymouth State outshot the Pilgrims 8-1 in the last 25 minutes including a ball that clanked off the woodwork, forcing five of the NEC goalkeeper's 10 saves in that stretch of time.
- One last gasp in the final minute found the Panthers with a corner kick, but the scoring opportunity landed safely in the goalkeeper's hands.
- The Pilgrims were comfortable to slow down the PSU pressure and settle for a 1-1 tie.
By the Numbers:
- PSU outshot the Pilgrims 24-7 in the contest.
- The Panthers were edged on corner kicks 10-4.
- The teams racked up a combined 21 fouls during the match.
- Asheim recorded his third career goal and first by virtue of penalty.
- It was a good result for the Panthers who lost to NEC 5-0 in the team's last meeting in 2021.
- Plymouth State now holds a record of 5-4-2 against the Pilgrims dating back to 1988.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State takes a week off before its next game, when the Panthers face the Lions of Eastern Nazarene College on Sept. 9. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. on Creedon Field in North Quincy, Mass.
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