WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Seven different players registered points, but Eastern Connecticut State University scored six times in the second quarter to fend off Plymouth State University, 14-10, in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's lacrosse game Rick McCarthy Field on Saturday afternoon.
Plymouth State scored back-to-back goals late in the first quarter to hold a 4-3 lead, but the Warriors found the back of the cage just before time expired, then used a 5-1 surge in the second to take control.
PSU scored twice to start the third quarter and get within 10-8, but ECSU answered back with consecutive goals and the Panthers were unable to rally.
Plymouth State slips to 4-6 (0-2 LEC), while the Warriors even out at 5-5 (2-0 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 10, Eastern Connecticut 14
- Plymouth State (4-6, 0-2 LEC)
- Eastern Connecticut (5-5, 2-0 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Senior Tarryn O'Brien (Weymouth, Mass.) opened the scoring just nine seconds into the first quarter but the Warriors were unfazed by the early goal.
- Eastern Connecticut answered back just over a minute later before taking the lead after 2:27.
- Junior Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) squared the game at 2-2 midway through the frame but the Warriors retook the lead, 3-2, with five minutes remaining in the quarter.
- Sophomore Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) converted a woman-up opportunity less than 40 seconds later and junior Maddie Hunt (Littleton, Mass.) followed with her first of the afternoon as the Panthers pulled in front, 4-3.
- ECSU evened the score with just one second remaining on the clock for a 4-4 tie after one quarter of play.
- The Warriors rode the momentum with three straight scores to open the third quarter. Senior Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) stopped the streak with her eighth of the year with just under four minutes left before halftime, but the hosts answered right back with a pair of goals for a 9-5 advantage.
- Gaspa converted a feed from senior Elle Moshier (Stratford, Conn.) with two minutes on the clock but another Warriors' goal in the final seconds gave the hosts a 10-6 lead at the break.
- Plymouth State attempted to rally in the third quarter with freshman Sammy Murphy (Harrisville, R.I.) finding the back of the cage while the Panthers were a player down. Moshier followed with an unassisted goal with just under nine minutes left in the frame to pull within 10-8.
- The Warriors held on, though, using back-to-back goals to restore the four-goal margin, 12-8, with three minutes left in the third.
- Murphy tallied her second of the day with 1:17 left on the clock and the score would remain 12-9 heading into the fourth.
- Plymouth State was unable to rally in the fourth. Hunt sandwiched her second of the day between a pair of ECSU tallies to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Hunt, Gaspa and Murphy all scored twice.
- Gaspa added four ground balls, five draw controls and a caused turnover to her stat line, while Hunt chipped in a pair of ground balls and two caused turnovers.
- Stowell was all over the field with a goal and three assists, two ground balls and 11 draw controls.
- O'Brien and Moshier finished with a goal and an assist each.
- Senior Amelia Thomas (Hopkinton, N.H.) paced the Panthers with five ground balls and four caused turnovers.
- Junior Margie Black (Longmeadow, Mass.) posted nine saves in the losing effort.
- Plymouth State held a narrow 25-23 edge in shots on goal.
- The Panthers were 15-for-19 on clear attempts, while ECSU finished 21-for-25.
- PSU went 2-for-5 in free position attempts.
- Plymouth State had won each of the last seven meetings between the two teams.
Up Next:
- PSU hosts UMass Boston in non-conference action on Tuesday (Apr. 9) at 4:00 p.m.
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