PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Graduate student
Taylor Healey (Campton, N.H.) scored her first goal of the season to spark Plymouth State University in a 4-1 win over Western Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference (LEC) field hockey game at Panther Field on Saturday afternoon.
The game served as the annual
Dorothy "Dot" Diehl Game, honoring the longtime PSU field hockey coach and faculty member for her dedication to the advancement of women's sports.
The Wolves struck first on a penalty corner when it deflected off a PSU stick and past senior goalkeeper
Piper Sherbert (Freeport, Maine) into the top left corner for an early 1-0 lead. The Panthers answered back just over a minute later when freshman
Georgia Coleman (North Conway, N.H.) buried a rebound off a penalty corner to tie the game. Just two minutes later, Healey notched her first of the season to give PSU the lead.
The back-and-forth matchup continued through the second quarter. Both defenses cleared potential scoring chances until late in the frame when Healey got loose and fired a shot on cage. The rebound squirted out to sophomore
Sarah Adamske (Windham, N.H.) and she fired it up and over the goalie for the 3-1 advantage with just 28 seconds left in the half.
Early in the third quarter the Panthers struck again when senior
Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) pounced on a loose ball following a penalty corner for the 4-1 advantage. Midway through the final frame, the Wolves pushed up field for a breakaway. Sherbert came flying out of the goal to make a huge stop, protecting the lead and the Panthers were able to close out the win.
Plymouth State improves to 5-4 (1-0 LEC), while WestConn slips to 5-7 (1-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, WestConn 1
- Plymouth State (5-4, 1-0 LEC)
- WestConn (5-7, 1-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- WestConn got on the board first when a shot deflected off a PSU defender for the early 1-0 lead.
- PSU answered back just over a minute later when Coleman buried a rebound off a penalty corner to tie the game at 1-1.
- The Panthers took the lead two minutes later on Healey's first of the season.
- The play went back and forth throughout most of the third and both defenses were equal to the task.
- PSU increased its lead to 3-1 late in the frame when Adamske chipped one over the goalie.
- Plymouth State maintained the two-goal lead into halftime.
- Stowell scored her third of the year early in the third to extend the margin to 4-1.
- Sherbert stopped a breakaway to preserve the lead and, later in the frame, graduate student Emma Lord (North Reading, Mass.) blocked a shot as the Panthers held WestConn at arm's length for the conference win.
By the Numbers:
- Healey scored her first of the season.
- Adamske added her team-leading sixth goal of the year.
- Coleman and Stowell chipped in with a goal apiece.
- Sherbert finished with eight saves on nine shots.
- PSU outshot the Wolves, 20-16, and 14-9 on goal.
Up Next:
- PSU travels to Thomas College on Tuesday (Oct. 8) for a non-conference matchup at 7:00 p.m.
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