BIDDEFORD, Maine – Senior
Crosby Fay (Waterville Valley, N.H.) and sophomore
Brady Hunt (Billerica, Mass.) each scored three times as Plymouth State University jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back in a 10-6 win over the University of New England in the Panthers' season-opener at Blue Bolt Field on Sunday afternoon.
Fay notched the first PSU goal of the season less than two minutes in, and Hunt doubled the margin just over a minute later. Hunt tallied his second of the game midway through the frame and graduate student
Alex Hawkom (Manchester, N.H.) scored twice late in the frame as the Panthers built a 5-0 lead after one.
Plymouth State maintained a comfortable advantage the rest of the way, with the Nor'easters scoring the final two goals to make the contest appear more competitive.
Plymouth State starts the season at 1-0, while the Nor'easters dip to 0-3.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 10, UNE 6
- Plymouth State (1-0)
- UNE (0-3)
How it Happened:
- Fay picked up right where he left off last spring after pouring in the second-most goals in a season (62) in program history, firing a shot to the back of the cage just 1:53 into the game.
- Hunt doubled the margin just 63 seconds later, then added his second of the day midway through the opening quarter.
- Hawkom got into the action with his first two goals in a PSU uniform to make it 5-0 after the first.
- UNE came up with the lone tally of the second as the Panthers maintained a comfortable 5-1 lead into halftime.
- Hunt completed the hat trick 6:39 into the third, before junior Ryan Jones (Tolland, Conn.) extended the lead to 7-1 just 32 seconds later.
- The Nor'easters tallied back-to-back scores to pull within 7-3, but Fay converted a feed from Jones with 1:02 left on the clock to give PSU an 8-3 advantage headed to the final stanza.
- Fay tacked on his third of the day 2:06 into the fourth. After the hosts answered, Jone buried his second of the game for a 10-4 lead with 10:36 left on the clock.
- The Nor'easters added a pair of late goals to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Senior Owen McNichols (Manchester, N.H.) made ten saves in goal to move into the top-five for career saves with 312.
- Fay (three goals), Hunt (three goals) and Jones (two goals, one assist) all finished with three points.
- Hawkom had a pair of goals, while junior Matt Miner (Chelmsford, Mass.) and senior Nolan Burke (Worcester, Mass.) each posted a pair of assists.
- Sophomore Cam Jenkins (Shrewsbury, Mass.) also registered an assist in the win.
- Junior Zach Gilvar (Stratham, N.H.) posted team-highs of four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Senior Marc Hirshom (Walpole, Mass.) added three ground balls, while junior Joey Loeber (Chelmsford, Mass.) and senior Jack Bonazzoli (Clinton, Mass.) finished with two ground balls and two caused turnovers apiece.
- Plymouth State held a 35-29 advantage in shots, including a 20-16 edge in shots on goal.
- The Panthers finished with just 19 turnovers, while UNE had 33 miscues.
- PSU went 15-of-21 in clear attempts, while the Nor'easters were 14-of-19.
- UNE controlled the faceoffs by a 15-3 margin and won the ground ball battle, 41-22.
- The Panthers were 0-for-6 on extra man opportunities. UNE converted 2-of-7 chances.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits Norwich University on Wednesday (Feb. 28) for a 4:00 p.m. clash with the Cadets.
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