PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Seven different players scored while junior
Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) and senior
Tarryn O'Brien (Weymouth, Mass.) posted five points apiece as Plymouth State University pulled away from Emmanuel College, 15-8, in non-conference women's lacrosse action at Panther Field on Friday evening.
The teams played even through the first half and the score was deadlocked at 5-5 3:33 into the third quarter, but PSU closed the frame on a 5-1 spurt to take control. The Panthers put the game away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the visitors by a 5-2 margin to secure the victory.
Plymouth State wins its home opener to run its record to 2-0, while the Saints dip to 0-2.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 15, Emmanuel 8
- Plymouth State (2-0)
- Emmanuel (0-2)
How it Happened:
- Freshman Sammy Murphy (Harrisville, R.I.) buried her first collegiate goal just 1:13 into the game as PSU took an early lead.
- The Saints answered back 1:32 later and the game remained tied until late in the frame.
- Emmanuel went ahead, 2-1, with 3:31 left in the first before O'Brien answered for the Panthers.
- Junior Maddie Hunt (Littleton, Mass.) restored the lead, 3-2, in the final seconds of the quarter.
- Each team scored once in the second, with O'Brien netting her second of the game for the Panthers, as PSU carried a narrow 4-3 lead into halftime.
- Twice Emmanuel tied the game in the third, but the Panthers quickly responded each time. The visitors pulled even 1:18 into the third, but Murphy answered right back to make it 5-4.
- The Saints tied things at 5-5 just over a minute later, but Hunt had the answer less than 20 seconds later to restore the 6-5 lead.
- Senior Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) and Murphy beat the Emmanuel goalie to extend the margin to 8-5 midway through the third.
- Emmanuel cut the deficit to 8-6 with three minutes to play, but Gaspa and Donovan each scored in the final 30 seconds to carry a 10-6 advantage into the fourth quarter.
- Donovan and O'Brien went back-to-back to push the margin to 12-6 in the opening two minutes of the fourth.
- Emmanuel attempted to keep pace with a score with 9:14 left to play, but Donovan buried her third of the game and senior Amelia Thomas (Hopkinton, N.H.) and junior Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) followed to put the game away.
- The Saints tacked on one more with two minutes to play to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Donovan and O'Brien each tallied three goals and two assists. Donovan chipped in a pair of ground balls, while O'Brien added two caused turnovers.
- Murphy also scored three times for the Panthers.
- Hunt (two goals), Gaspa (two goals), Stowell (one goal, two assists) and Thomas (one goal, one assist) all had multi-point games.
- Junior Margie Black (Longmeadow, Mass.) made three saves.
- Thomas and freshman Grace Campo (Chelmsford, Mass.) had game-highs of four ground balls apiece, while Campo forced a game-high five turnovers.
- Stowell hauled in ten draw controls, with Gaspa adding seven.
- Plymouth State held a 31-14 advantage in shots, including a 26-11 lead in shots on goal.
- Emmanuel went 15-of-22 on clear attempts, while the Panthers were 10-of-16.
- PSU won the ground ball battle by a 23-16 margin.
- The Panthers won 20 draw controls, while limiting Emmanuel to just seven.
- Plymouth State finished 3-for-7 in free position shots, while the Saints were 0-for-2.
- It was the first meeting between the two teams.
Up Next:
- PSU welcomes Framingham State to town on Tuesday (Mar. 5). Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.
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