KEENE, N.H. – Senior
Sondre Asheim (Klepp, Norway) scored a pair of goals to lift fifth-seeded Plymouth State University over fourth-seeded Keene State College, 3-0, in the first round of the Little East Conference (LEC) Men's Soccer Tournament at Dr. Ron Butcher Field on Tuesday night.
Plymouth State improves to 9-8-2 and advances to the semifinal round. The Panthers visit top-seeded Western Connecticut State on Thursday (Nov. 7) for a 6:00 p.m. clash with the Wolves. Keene State's season comes to an end with a 4-11-3 mark.
Asheim converted a penalty following a Keene State handball in the box in the 41st minute, then pressured a back pass to the Keene State goalie early in the second half, leaping to deflect the keeper's clearance attempt and redirecting the ball into the goal to make it 2-0 in the 48th minute.
The Owls regrouped, throwing pressure on the Plymouth State defense, but senior
Nicolas Cornejo Mora (Durham, N.H.) and the Panthers' back line held strong and freshman
Colby Cowan (Oakdale, Conn.) provided an insurance goal with 7:54 left to play to secure the win.
A win in the semifinal round would send PSU to the championship game for the first time since 2008.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Keene State 0
- Plymouth State (9-8-2)
- Keene State (4-11-3)
How it Happened:
- The action went back-and-forth through the first 20 minutes, with neither team able to put a shot on goal.
- The Owls had a free kick from 25 yards out in the 26th minute, but Cornejo Mora controlled the shot to keep the game scoreless.
- Cornejo Mora was up to the task again in the 35th minute on a turnaround shot from eight yards out.
- PSU was awarded a penalty when a Keene State defender knocked down a cross attempt with his hand and Asheim calmly delivered a perfect strike to the corner for the game's first goal with 4:27 left in the half.
- Asheim's pressure near midfield forced the Owls into a pair of backward passes. He alertly challenged the goalkeeper's clearance attempt, knocking the ball down before blasting it home to make it 2-0 in the 48th minute.
- Keene State picked up the pressure from there, but Plymouth State's backline played spectacularly to thwart off any true scoring chances.
- Cowan received a pass just outside the box and made a quick move to create space before catching the Owls' goalkeeper flatfooted with a low drive to the nearside post to put the game out of reach in the 83rd minute.
By the Numbers:
- With his two goals, Asheim doubled his season total.
- Cowan's goal was also his fourth of the year.
- Cornejo Mora finished with three saves to post his fourth shutout of the season and the ninth of his career.
- Plymouth State's defense blocked four shots.
- The Owls had an 18-6 advantage in shots.
- Plymouth State scored on all three of its shots on goal.
- The win was PSU's first at Keene since the 2017 season.
- Plymouth State's nine wins are tied for the most in the last 15 years.
- The Panthers' last postseason appearance came in 2015, when the team also played in the semifinals.
Up Next:
- Fourth-seeded Plymouth State heads to top-seeded WestConn on Thursday (Nov. 7). The semifinal game kicks off at 6:00 p.m.
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