PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University men's soccer team fell to the University of Southern Maine Huskies, 3-2, in a Little East Conference (LEC) matchup on Arold Field in a Wednesday matinee.
The Panthers showed grit, coming from behind on two occasions, but a second half penalty kick proved to be the difference in the scoreline in a game where Plymouth State overpowered its opponent but came up short.
Junior
Ethan Bryce (Seymour, Conn.) scored the Panthers' first tally in the 26th minute to tie the game up at 1-1. After the Huskies' second goal, freshman substitute
Ariel Membreno (Woburn, Mass.) tapped the ball home to bring it to 2-2 in the 44th minute; his first touch of the afternoon. Senior
Faisal Abdallah (Pembroke, N.H.) continued his scoring streak – recording assists on both Panther goals.
Southern Maine was awarded a penalty in the 72nd to retake the lead 3-2, where the score would remain.
Plymouth State falls to 2-2-3 (0-2-1 LEC) on the season, as Southern Maine improves to 4-5-1 (2-1-0 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Southern Maine 3
- Plymouth State (2-2-3, 0-2-1 LEC)
- Southern Maine (4-5-1, 2-1-0 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Southern Maine opened the afternoon's scoring 51 seconds into the game on a ball played behind the back line to go up 1-0.
- The Panthers responded, tying it up 1-1 when Bryce got on the end of a ball played into the box from Abdallah in the 26th minute.
- USM took no time to regain the lead 2-1, 40 seconds after the Panthers knotted it up.
- After some confusion, Membreno came in as a late substitute in the first half and took advantage of his first opportunity to tie the game at 2-2 less than two minutes before halftime.
- The Panthers had several opportunities to start the second half, but a penalty in the 72nd minute was converted by the Huskies to go up 3-2 as time winded down.
- PSU had a last gasp effort with seconds to play, but a blasted shot found the side netting as time expired.
By the Numbers:
- PSU outshot the Huskies 16-8 in the contest.
- The Panthers recorded 13 corner kicks to the Huskies' three.
- Shots on goal were in Plymouth State's favor, 8-6.
- USM had six saves to the Panthers' three.
- Abdallah has now recorded points in five of PSU's seven games this season.
- The Panthers are 5-2-3 in the last ten matchups against USM.
- The Panthers hold a commanding 25-9-4 record in the head-to-head dating back to 1986.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State will continue LEC play at home on Saturday (Sept. 30) as the Wolves from Western Connecticut State University visit Arold Field for a 3:00 p.m. contest.
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