PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Ryan Collins (Attleboro, Mass.) poured in a career-high six goals and Plymouth State University outscored Massachusetts Maritime Academy by a 10-3 margin in the second half as the Panthers rolled to a 14-7 win in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's lacrosse game at Panther Field on Monday afternoon.
The game went back-and-forth in the first half, with the Buccaneers holding a 4-3 lead two minutes into the second quarter. Collins notched his second of the day seven minutes later and the game went into halftime deadlocked at 4-4.
Collins scored twice during a 3-0 spurt in the third quarter, though Mass. Maritime scored in the final minute to cut the margin to 7-5 heading into the fourth. Plymouth State took over late, though, as freshman
Aiden Renner (Phillipsburg, N.J.) and senior
Crosby Fay (Waterville Valley, N.H.) tallied goals just 41 seconds apart in the opening minute and the Panthers continued to pile on for the win.
Plymouth State improves to 9-4 (4-1 LEC), while the Buccaneers end the year with an 8-7 record (4-4 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 14, Mass. Maritime 7
- Plymouth State (9-4, 4-1 LEC)
- Mass. Maritime (8-7, 4-4 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Renner won the opening faceoff and raced down field to give the Panthers an early lead just 12 seconds into the contest.
- Mass. Maritime answered with two straight in the middle of the frame to jump in front, but Fay buried his 25th of the year with two minutes left to tie the game at 2-2.
- The second quarter started with a flurry as the teams combined for three goals in a 70-second span. The Buccaneers jumped ahead before Collins answered with his first of the day 38 seconds later, though the visitors retook the lead 32 seconds later.
- Collins' second of the game with 6:13 left before halftime knotted the score at 4-4 and it would remain tied into the break.
- The Panthers scored the first three goals of the second half, with Collins finding the back of the cage twice, as PSU went ahead 7-4.
- Mass. Maritime converted in the final 30 seconds to pull within 7-5 heading to the final stanza.
- Plymouth State began to pull away early in the fourth as Renner and Fay both scored in the opening minute. Collins and junior Ryan Jones (Tolland, Conn.) added goals within the next two-plus minutes as the lead grew to 11-5.
- The visitors briefly slowed the momentum midway through the quarter, but Collins responded with his sixth of the day just over a minute later and late goals from graduate student Alex Hawkom (Manchester, N.H.) and junior Zach Gilvar (Stratham, N.H.) put the game out of reach.
- Mass. Maritime capped the scoring with the final goal of the day with 18 seconds left on the clock.
By the Numbers:
- Collins finished with six goals and an assist to set career-highs in both goals and points. All 12 of his goals this season have come in the last four games.
- Senior Owen McNichols (Manchester, N.H.) made 14 saves to earn the win.
- Fay posted three goals and a caused turnover, while Renner scored twice and added an assist with a team-high six ground balls.
- Senior Nolan Burke (Worcester, Mass.) dished out three assists, as Gilvar and Jones had multi-point games with a goal and an assist apiece.
- PSU held a slight 23-21 edge in shots on goal.
- The Panthers were 23-of-26 in clear attempts, while Mass. Maritime finished 18-of-20.
- Plymouth State improves to 13-2 against the Buccaneers. The win was PSU's first of the series at home.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State remains at home for another league game against Salem State on Wednesday (Apr. 17) with a 4:00 p.m. start time.
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