PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Athena Comeau (Rutland, Mass.) scored twice and classmate
Kayla Antonucci (Windham, N.H.) made ten saves as Plymouth State University defeated New England College, 4-1, in a non-conference field hockey contest at Panther Field on Tuesday evening.
PSU had possession in the offensive zone for half of the first quarter but couldn't solve the Pilgrims' defense. NEC broke the scoring with just over five minutes remaining in the frame, though the Panthers held a 7-3 shot advantage after one.
Plymouth State came out flying in the second quarter and tied the game just over two minutes in when senior
Mackenzie Labrie (Canaan, N.H.) found a loose ball near the cage and slammed home her sixth of the season to knot the game. NEC pressured with many opportunities on penalty corners, but Antonucci stood tall with a massive save with just under three minutes left to keep the score at 1-1 going into halftime.
Early in the third quarter, Comeau broke loose just inside the shooting circle and sent a missile through traffic and into the back of the cage. Minutes later, NEC had a chance to pull even when a penalty stroke was awarded, but Antonucci made a sprawling right pad save to preserve the Panthers' lead. PSU extended the margin on a penalty corner when Comeau received a pass from senior
Taylor Healey (Campton, N.H.) and buried her second of the game for a 3-1 lead.
Healey was awarded a penalty stroke with 2:57 to play in the fourth quarter and she beat the NEC goaltender low to the stick side for her sixth tally of the season. Plymouth State held on to finish out the 4-1 win.
Plymouth State remains unbeaten at 3-0, while NEC dips to 2-2.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, NEC 1
- Plymouth State (3-0)
- NEC (2-2)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State applied the early pressure, but it was the Pilgrims who struck first in the 11th minute and the visitors held the 1-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
- PSU evened the score just over two minutes into the second on Labrie's sixth tally.
- Antonucci made an amazing save on an NEC penalty corner with under three minutes to go to keep the game tied heading to halftime.
- Comeau found a loose ball early in the third and fired a shot through traffic to give PSU the lead.
- Antonucci made a massive right pad save minutes later on a Pilgrims' penalty stroke.
- Comeau extended the margin to 3-1 on a penalty corner off a pass from Healey in the 36th minute.
- Healey cashed in on a penalty stroke with 2:57 remaining in the game to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Comeau finished with two goals and fired a game-high ten shots.
- Healey finished with a goal and two assists.
- Antonucci made 10 saves on 11 shots faced.
- PSU had a 25-16 advantage in shots and 16-11 edge in shots on goal.
- The Panthers are 21-9 all-time against NEC.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State heads to Husson on Saturday (Sept. 16) for a non-conference clash with the Eagles at noon.
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