PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) notched six points, but Bates College took control in the second half to top Plymouth State University, 23-15, in a non-conference women's lacrosse game at Panther Field on Wednesday afternoon.
Both offenses were converting at a high rate in the early going as PSU closed the opening quarter with a 4-1 spurt to take a 7-6 lead. The rapid scoring slowly only slightly in the second as the game was deadlocked at 11-11 at the half.
PSU took a one-goal lead, but the Bobcats fired off five straight tallies to take control. The Panthers closed to within 16-14 late in the third and trailed just 18-15 with 11 minutes to play, but the visitors ran off the final five goals of the evening to claim the win.
Plymouth State falls to 3-3, while Bates improves to 3-4.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 15, Bates 23
- Plymouth State (3-3)
- Bates (3-4)
How it Happened:
- The visitors scored twice in the opening three minutes to grab an early lead, but senior Elle Moshier (Stratford, Conn.) answered right back, and classmate Tarryn O'Brien (Weymouth, Mass.) tied the game a minute later.
- Bates scored twice in a 51 second span and led 5-3 with 6:34 left in the first.
- Donovan scored during a woman-up situation, then added another just 22 seconds later to pull even at 5-5, and junior Maddie Hunt (Littleton, Mass.) gave PSU a lead with 3:15 left in the quarter.
- Bates retied the game with two minutes left, but junior Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) gave the Panthers a 7-6 advantage when she scored with 33 seconds left.
- The Bobcats scored the first two goals of the second to leapfrog ahead, but O'Brien and Donovan went back-to-back to regain the lead.
- Bates struck back again before Donovan's third of the game and sophomore Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) pushed the Panthers' lead to 11-9 with nine minutes before the break.
- The visitors rallied with two straight to knot the game at 11-11 at the half.
- O'Brien found the back of the cage again in the opening minute of the third, but Bates ripped off five straight goals to take control.
- Hunt made good on a woman-up opportunity with two minutes left in the third and O'Brien cut the margin to 16-14 only 32 seconds later, but Bates got one back in the final minute to make it 17-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
- After a Bates score, senior Amelia Thomas (Hopkinton, N.H.) responded for the Panthers to pull within 18-15 with 11:03 left on the clock. The Bobcats would extend the lead the rest of the way, though, using five consecutive goals to take the win.
By the Numbers:
- Donovan finished with four goals and two assists and added a pair of ground balls. She finished a perfect 3-for-3 in free position attempts.
- O'Brien also scored four times and added a pair of ground balls.
- Hunt and Cunningham each scored twice.
- Stowell approached the program best for draw controls in a game, finishing with 15 – just one shy of the record.
- Senior Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) led the team with two caused turnovers and added six draw controls.
- Bates outshot the Panthers by a 31-24 margin.
- Plymouth State went 10-for-16 on clears, while the Bobcats were 17-of-21.
- PSU controlled the draws, winning 24 of 41, including ten in the first quarter alone.
- The Panthers converted 5-of-10 free position attempts.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State heads to the University of New England on Saturday (Mar. 23) for a 1:00 p.m. clash with the Nor'easters.
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