PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Taylor Healey (Campton, N.H.) scored three goals, including the game winner with just 58 seconds to play, while classmate
Jess Couture (Dover, N.H.) added two of her own as third-seeded Plymouth State University held off sixth-seeded Western Connecticut State University, 5-4, in the first round of the Little East Conference (LEC) Field Hockey Tournament at Panther Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Plymouth State improves to 10-8 and advances to Thursday's semifinal round at second-seeded Keene State. WestConn's season comes to an end at 7-13.
Plymouth State started the game with a wave of chances, but the Panthers were unable to cash in until the final minutes of the first quarter. Couture broke the scoreless tie with her second of the season, but the Wolves answered back less than a minute later to even the score. Healey answered back just over a minute later as PSU took a 2-1 lead after one.
WestConn pulled even again midway through the second quarter, but Couture gave PSU a 3-2 lead at the half with her second of the game in the final minute.
In the dying seconds of the third quarter, WestConn pushed back during a penalty corner. Graduate student
Kayla Antonucci (Windham, N.H.) made two key stops, but WestConn was able to even the score on the third attempt to tie the game at 3-3.
Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, Healey punched one into the back of the cage to restore the lead, but the visitors responded with a penalty stroke goal midway through the frame to tie the game once again. With only 58 seconds to go, senior
Mackenzie Labrie (Canaan, N.H.) fired the ball into the circle where Healey got a stick on it to redirect the ball into the back of the cage for the lead. Antonucci made one more big save as WestConn had a chance on a penalty corner in the final seconds to preserve the win.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 5, WestConn 4
- Plymouth State (10-8)
- WestConn (7-13)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State got out to a hot start, putting constant pressure on the WestConn defense.
- PSU got on the board first on Couture's second of the season.
- WestConn answered back less than a minute later to tie things at 1-1.
- Plymouth State responded with Healey's 12th of the season for a 2-1 lead.
- Midway through the second, the Wolves pulled even at 2-2.
- In the final minute of the second quarter, Couture added her second of the night for the 3-2 lead heading into halftime.
- WestConn evened the score once again off a penalty corner with four seconds remaining in the third quarter.
- The Panthers responded again when Healey deposited her second of the game in the first minute of the fourth quarter for the 4-3 lead.
- WestConn battled to tie things up, scoring on a penalty stroke midway through the fourth.
- With less than a minute remaining, Healey completed the hat trick when she redirected a blast off the stick of Labrie.
- Antonucci made one massive save with 30 seconds to go as PSU held on for the win.
By the Numbers:
- Couture recorded the first multi-goal game of her career.
- Healey's three goals give her 14 for the year.
- Antonucci made seven saves.
- Shots were even at 19-19.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series 19-3 and has won each of the last six meetings.
- PSU also beat the Wolves at home in the first round of last year's LEC Tournament.
Up Next:
- Third-seeded Plymouth State advances to the semifinals for the 18th time in program history. The Panthers visit second-seeded Keene State for a semifinal matchup on Thursday (Nov. 7) at 5:00 p.m. for a rematch of last year's semifinal contest.
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