PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Crosby Fay (Waterville Valley, N.H.) scored four times and Plymouth State University put together a fourth quarter rally, but visiting Wentworth Institute of Technology was able to hold on for a 12-8 win over the Panthers in non-conference men's lacrosse action at Panther Field on Saturday afternoon.
Wentworth scored the game's first five goals and built up a 9-1 lead in the early stages of the third quarter. Fay converted his 20th goal of the season with just over nine minutes in the frame to initiate a 3-1 spurt as PSU pulled to within 10-4 entering the fourth.
The Panthers chipped away with four straight goals, including three in less than two minutes, to pull within 10-8 and force a Leopards' timeout. Wentworth controlled the ensuing faceoff and raced down field to stop the streak with a goal and added an insurance tally a minute later to account for the final score.
Plymouth State dips to 5-2, while Wentworth improves to 6-2.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 8, Wentworth 12
- Plymouth State (5-1)
- Wentworth (6-2)
How it Happened:
- The Leopards did all the scoring in the first quarter to build a 4-0 lead.
- Wentworth struck again early in the second to extend the margin.
- Fay put the Panthers on the board with 3:55 left in the frame and PSU quickly went into a man-up situation, but Wentworth pushed the lead to 6-1 with a man-down goal and the score would remain that way into halftime.
- Wentworth scored three times in the first five minutes of the third as the lead ballooned to 9-1.
- Fay converted a feed from sophomore Brady Hunt (Billerica, Mass.) and Hunt buried one of his own to pull within 9-3.
- The teams traded goals heading into the fourth quarter with junior Aiden O'Loughlin (Londonderry, N.H.) cutting the deficit to 10-4.
- Senior Nolan Burke (Worcester, Mass.) cashed in his second of the year in the opening minutes of the period and the teams went up-and-down the field from there.
- With four minutes to go, Fay's third of the game sparked a rally and graduate student Alex Hawkom (Manchester, N.H.) followed with an unassisted goal with 2:23 on the clock.
- The Panthers controlled the faceoff and Hunt found Fay for another score just seven seconds later to pull within 10-8 and force a Wentworth timeout.
- The Leopards won the ensuing faceoff and raced down the field to restore the three-goal margin and the visitors added an insurance goal during a man-up situation less than a minute later to close out the scoring.
By the Numbers:
- Fay has scored exactly four goals in each of the last three games. He added three ground balls.
- Hunt finished with a goal and two assists to go with three ground balls, while sophomore Cam Jenkins (Shrewsbury, Mass.) had a pair of helpers.
- Juniors Ryan Jones (Tolland, Conn.) and Leif Charbonneau (North Grafton, Mass.) posted five ground balls apiece to lead the Panthers, while classmate Joey Loeber (Chelmsford, Mass.) contributed a game-high three caused turnovers.
- Senior Owen McNichols (Manchester, N.H.) made a season-high 13 saves.
- Wentworth held a slight 25-22 advantage in shots on goal and a 46-42 edge in ground balls.
- The Leopards were 27-of-33 in clear attempts, while PSU was an efficient 19-of-21.
- The setback was the Panthers' first loss to Wentworth in five meetings.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State heads to Lasell on Wednesday (Mar. 20) for a 4:00 p.m. clash with the Lasers.
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