NEWTON, Mass. – Sophomore
Brady Hunt (Billerica, Mass.) matched career-highs of four goals and five points, but Lasell University capped a wild fourth quarter comeback with the game-winning goal just before the final horn to top Plymouth State University, 11-10, in non-conference men's lacrosse action at Grellier Field on Wednesday afternoon.
A back-and-forth game from start to finish, the Panthers closed the third quarter with three straight tallies to take a 9-7 lead into the fourth. Lasell cut the deficit to one just over a minute in and the Lasers pulled even midway through the frame. The hosts went ahead with five minutes left on the clock, but Hunt tied the game at 10-10 with two minutes left in regulation. The game seemed headed for overtime, but the Lasers were able to fire a shot into the cage with just one second left on the game clock to sneak away with the win.
Plymouth State slides to 5-3, while Lasell moves to 3-4.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 10, Lasell 11
- Plymouth State (5-3)
- Lasell (3-4)
How it Happened:
- The Lasers scored the first two goals before graduate student Alex Hawkom (Manchester, N.H.) converted for PSU to make it 2-1.
- Lasell made good on a man-up chance but senior Nolan Burke (Worcester, Mass.) converted a feed from junior Matt Miner (Chelmsford, Mass.) to pull within 3-2 after the first.
- Hunt connected with senior Crosby Fay (Waterville Valley, N.H.) to tie the game early in the second. The game would remain deadlocked at 3-3 until late in the half. Lasell went back up, 4-3, with 2:29 on the clock, but Hunt answered with back-to-back goals to give PSU a 5-4 halftime advantage.
- The teams traded goals to start the third, with Hawkom burying his second of the afternoon for a 6-5 lead.
- Lasell jumped in front with two straight scores, but Hunt tied the game with 4:15 left in the third to start a 3-0 spurt. Junior Aiden O'Loughlin (Londonderry, N.H.) put the Panthers ahead 20 seconds later and Hawkom's third of the game made it 9-7 heading into the final stanza.
- Lasell battled back with a 3-0 surge of its own to go back in front, 10-9, with five minutes to play.
- Hunt tied the game off a feed from Burke with just under two minutes to go and it appeared as though the contest would be decided in overtime, but the Lasers stole the win with the game-winner with just one second remaining on the clock.
By the Numbers:
- Hunt tied a career best with four goals, while his five points also matched a personal best.
- Hawkom finished with three tallies and added a ground ball and caused turnover, while Miner finished with three assists.
- Senior Marc Hirshom (Walpole, Mass.) and junior Leif Charbonneau (North Grafton, Mass.) led the team with three ground balls apiece.
- Senior Owen McNichols (Manchester, N.H.) finished with a season-high 14 saves in the losing effort.
- Lasell held a 25-17 advantage in shots and went a perfect 17-for-17 in clear attempts.
- The Panthers finished 19-of-22 in clears.
- Plymouth State leads the head-to-head matchup 10-9, though Lasell has won six of the last seven.
Up Next:
- The Panthers open Little East Conference (LEC) play on Friday (Mar. 22) against preseason favorite WestConn. Opening faceoff at Panther Field is set for 7:00 p.m.
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