GORHAM, Maine – Graduate student
Taylor Healey (Campton, N.H.) scored three goals to help Plymouth State University rally to beat the University of Southern Maine, 4-3, in a key Little East Conference (LEC) field hockey game at Hanaway Field on Tuesday night.
The hosts got on the board in the final stages of the first quarter to take a 1-0 lead. PSU answered back early in the second quarter on Healey's first of the evening, knotting the game at 1-1. Less than a minute later, the Huskies took their second lead of the contest, then added another one before the end of the first half to take a 3-1 lead into halftime.
The Panthers looked like a different team after the break when Healey capitalized just over six minutes in on a penalty stroke to pull within one, 3-2. Senior
Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) tied things up less than two minutes later with her fourth of the season.
Healey completed her hat trick just over three minutes into the final frame for PSU's first lead of the night. Graduate student
Kayla Antonucci (Windham, N.H.) and the Panthers' defense slammed the door the rest of the way, as Plymouth State held on for the key conference win.
Plymouth State jumps to 7-6 (2-1 LEC), while the Huskies move to 5-12 (1-3 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, Southern Maine 3
- Plymouth State (7-6, 2-1 LEC)
- Southern Maine (5-12, 1-3 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The Huskies struck first late in the opening frame for the 1-0 lead.
- Healey scored her first of the contest to even things up early in the second.
- USM regained the lead just over 30 seconds later.
- The Huskies added another one shortly later to take a 3-1 lead into halftime.
- The Panthers came out firing on all cylinders after the break.
- Healey scored her second of the night on a penalty stroke to cut the margin to one, 3-2.
- Just two minutes later, Stowell tied the score with her fourth of the year.
- Healey completed the Panthers' comeback with her third goal of the night just over three minutes into the fourth for PSU's first lead of the game.
- Antonucci and the Panthers' defense slammed the door the rest of the way as PSU capped off the rally.
By the Numbers:
- Healey scored three goals and had a team-leading five shots.
- It was Healey's sixth career game with three or more goals.
- Antonucci finished with eight saves.
- Each team finished with 11 shots on goal, while the Panthers had eight corners to USM's four.
- Plymouth State leads the series by a 27-17 margin, though the Huskies had won the last five.
- The last two meetings were decided in overtime.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State welcomes Framingham State to Panther Field for a 4:00 p.m. matchup on Thursday (Oct. 24).
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