PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) matched the program record for caused turnovers in a game and classmate
Tarryn O'Brien (Weymouth, Mass.) poured in nine points as Plymouth State University thumped Vermont State University Castleton, 20-2, in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's lacrosse game at Panther Field on Wednesday afternoon.
O'Brien set up junior
Maddie Hunt (Littleton, Mass.) for a pair of goals in the opening 28 seconds and Plymouth State never looked back. Castleton trimmed the deficit to 3-1 midway through the first quarter, but PSU scored the next nine goals to build a 12-1 lead at the half before coasting in the second half.
Gaspa's nine caused turnovers matched the school record set exactly 20 years ago.
Plymouth State improves to 9-6 (4-2 LEC), while the Spartans fall to 2-13 (1-5 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 20, VTSU Castleton 2
- Plymouth State (9-6, 4-2 LEC)
- VTSU Castleton (2-13, 1-5 LEC)
How it Happened:
- O'Brien fed Hunt for the game-opening goal just 14 seconds in and the duo hooked up for another tally another 14 seconds later.
- Junior Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) converted a woman-up goal to make it 3-0 with 9:01 left in the quarter.
- The Spartans got on the board with 7:30 remaining, but PSU closed the frame with goals from O'Brien, Donovan, and junior Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) to make it 6-1 after one.
- Hunt completed her hat trick 33 seconds into the second quarter as the Panthers did all the scoring in the second quarter.
- O'Brien and Hunt teamed up for another tally midway through the stanza before O'Brien buried her second of the afternoon to extend the lead to 9-1.
- Gaspa took advantage of a woman-up chance and Donovan made it 11-1 in the final minutes of the half.
- Stowell capped the second quarter scoring, beating the Castleton goalie as time expired to make it 12-1 at the break.
- O'Brien opened the second half scoring in the opening minute, then added her fourth of the game with 4:04 left in the frame.
- Gaspa found the back of the cage for her second and Donovan snuck a goal in just before the horn sounded to push the lead to 16-1 heading to the fourth.
- Castleton scored in the first minute of the fourth quarter, but the Panthers responded with the final four goals of the game. Junior Emily Koufos (Loudon, N.H.), senior Amelia Thomas (Hopkinton, N.H.), freshman Sammy Murphy (Harrisville, R.I.) and sophomore Camryn Loomis (Seekonk, Mass.) accounted for the final four tallies.
By the Numbers:
- Gaspa had a huge game, adding five ground balls, five draw controls and a pair of goals to her record-tying nine caused turnovers.
- O'Brien posted a nine-point game on four goals and five assists.
- Donovan and Hunt chipped in four goals apiece. Donovan added two assists and six ground balls, while Hunt contributed five ground balls and two caused turnovers.
- Stowell added six draw controls, two goals and an assist, while Thomas posted five ground balls, three draw controls, a goal and an assist.
- Plymouth State outshot the Spartans by a 44-2 margin, including 31-2 in shots on goal.
- The Panthers went 12-for-13 in clear attempts while limiting Castleton to just 8-for-22.
- PSU snagged 34 ground balls and won 16-of-23 draw controls.
- Plymouth State improves to 27-1 against the Spartans, winning each of the last nine contests.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State closes out the regular season on Friday (Apr. 26) when the Panthers visit UMass Dartmouth for a 6:00 p.m. game.
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