DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Junior
Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) poured in eight points and senior
Amelia Thomas (Hopkinton, N.H.) notched a seven-point game as Plymouth State University toppled the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 23-6, in Little East Conference (LEC) women's lacrosse action at Cressy Field on Friday night.
Plymouth State left little doubt in the early going, storming out to an 8-0 lead late in the first quarter. The Corsairs scored twice to end the frame, but the Panthers outscored the hosts 4-1 in the second for a 12-3 lead at the half.
After trading goals to start the second half, PSU put the game out of reach with a 9-1 run to close out the victory.
Plymouth State ends the regular season with a 10-6 mark (5-2 LEC), while UMass Dartmouth goes to 9-7 (2-5 LEC).
The Panthers could enter next week's LEC Tournament as the No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 seed depending on the outcome of tomorrow's remaining league games.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 23, UMass Dartmouth 6
- Plymouth State (10-6, 5-2 LEC)
- UMass Dartmouth (9-7, 2-5 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Senior Elle Moshier (Stratford, Conn.) opened the scoring with a woman-up goal 3:42 into the game. That tally sparked a run of eight-straight goals as the Panthers got out to an early lead.
- Junior Maddie Hunt (Littleton, Mass.) scored her 40th of the season to double the lead and seniors Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) and Tarryn O'Brien (Weymouth, Mass.) struck 13 seconds apart to double the margin.
- Junior Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) and Gaspa poured in two more before Donovan tallied back-to-back goals to make it 8-0.
- The Corsairs closed the quarter with a pair of goals for an 8-2 game after one.
- PSU came right back with the first four goals of the second as Moshier and sophomore Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) sandwiched markers between a pair from Thomas.
- UMD completed the first half scoring to make it 12-3 at the break.
- Donovan and Hunt made it 14-3 early in the third, but the Corsairs answered right back with two straight.
- PSU took over from there, using a 6-0 run late into the fourth quarter to build an insurmountable lead. Thomas, Cunningham and Donovan all snuck scores in before the end of the third, and Thomas, Gaspa and Moshier opened the fourth-quarter scoring.
- The hosts momentarily paused the momentum, but Plymouth State scored the remaining three goals of the contest (O'Brien, Donovan and Moshier) to close out the regular season with a decisive victory.
By the Numbers:
- Donovan, who poured in five goals and three assists while snagging five ground balls, is closing in on 200-career points. She currently sits at 192.
- Thomas added four goals, three assists and two ground balls.
- Stowell added six points on a goal and five helpers, while pulling down seven dray controls.
- Moshier (four goals), Gaspa (three goals), O'Brien (two goals, one assist), Hunt (two goals) and Cunningham (two goals) all had multiple points.
- Moshier converted all four of her free position attempts.
- PSU had a 39-18 advantage in shots.
- The Panthers were 14-for-16 in clear attempts, while limiting UMass Dartmouth to 11-of-19.
- PSU went 5-for-12 in free position attempts.
- Plymouth State moves to 26-1 against the Corsairs, winning each of the last 17 games.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State will wait to learn its seeding for next week's LEC Tournament. First round games are set for Tuesday (Apr. 30).
– 30 –
