PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Graduate student
Alex Hawkom (Manchester, N.H.) scored four times, including the game-winner midway through the first overtime period, as Plymouth State University outlasted WestConn, 10-9, in the Little East Conference (LEC) opener for both teams at a chilly Panther Field on Friday night.
WestConn, the defending LEC champions and preseason favorites, erased a 9-7 deficit with a pair of goals in the final 42 seconds of regulation to tie the game at 9-9 with just six seconds left on the clock.
The Wolves won the overtime faceoff and had a shot to win, but PSU's defense came up big in forcing a pair of off-target shots. Plymouth State raced up field and used a timeout, and Hawkom lifted the Panthers to the win when his sidearm shot from the right side found the top right corner.
Plymouth State jumps to 6-3 (1-0 LEC), while WestConn moves to 5-3 (0-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 10, WestConn 9 (OT)
- Plymouth State (6-3, 1-0 LEC)
- WestConn (5-3, 0-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- WestConn opened the scoring with a man-up goal 24 seconds in, but senior Nolan Burke (Worcester, Mass.) answered right back to tie the game at 1-1.
- The Wolves scored back-to-back goals over the next two minutes to regain the lead, 3-1.
- The action picked up as the teams went up and down the field, with sophomore Brady Hunt (Billerica, Mass.) cutting into the deficit with a goal with five minutes left in the first.
- Hawkom added a tally just over two minutes later, spinning through a pair of defenders before finishing at the cage, as the game went into the second quarter tied at 3-3.
- The Panthers jumped in front midway through the second when junior Ryan Jones (Tolland, Conn.) buried his 11th of the year 6:35 into the quarter.
- Hawkom added his second of the game with four minutes before the half to push the lead to 5-3, but the Wolves answered back 90 seconds later.
- Junior Aiden O'Loughlin (Londonderry, N.H.) raced down field and split a pair of defenders, then bounced a shot past the WestConn goalie to restore the two-goal advantage, 6-4, with just six seconds before the break.
- WestConn provided all the scoring in the third quarter, ripping off three goals to take a 7-6 lead.
- Hawkom tied the game three minutes into the fourth and Burke put Plymouth State back in front three minutes later.
- Freshman Kevin Cougler (Dover, N.H.) seemed to lock up the win when he gave PSU a two-goal lead, 9-7, with just 1:30 remaining.
- The Wolves clawed back, though, scoring twice in a 36-second span to pull even with just six seconds left in regulation.
- WestConn controlled the overtime faceoff but was unable to put a shot on target and Plymouth State cleared the ball and called timeout. Hawkom got the ball behind the cage on the right side, spun past a defender to create a shooting lane and whipped a shot to the top right corner for the win.
By the Numbers:
- Hawkom's four goals were a career high. He has seven tallies in the last two games.
- Burke scored twice, while Hunt and Jones recorded a goal and an assist each.
- Hunt, junior Matt Miner (Chelmsford, Mass.) and senior Jack Bonazzoli (Clinton, Mass.) had four ground balls apiece.
- Senior Marc Hirshom (Walpole, Mass.) anchored the defense with five caused turnovers and three ground balls.
- Classmate Owen McNichols (Manchester, N.H.) finished with seven saves to earn the win.
- PSU held an 18-16 advantage in shots on goal and went 25-for-27 in clear attempts.
- The Wolves finished 19-for-25 in clears and controlled the faceoff winning 15-of-23.
- Plymouth State leads the head-to-head matchup 15-11, though WestConn had won each of the last four meetings.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits UMass Boston for another LEC contest a week from Saturday (Mar. 30). Opening faceoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
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