PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Fourth-seeded Plymouth State University used a 5-0 surge in the third quarter to take control of the game and knock off top-seeded Western Connecticut State University, 13-8, in the semifinal round of the Little East Conference (LEC) Women's Lacrosse Tournament at Westside Athletic Complex on Thursday afternoon.
Plymouth State got out to a strong start with the game's first two scores and the Panthers would lead throughout. WestConn pulled to within one, 5-4, early in the second quarter but senior
Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) scored to spark a 3-0 spurt. The Wolves cut the deficit to 8-6 at the half, but Plymouth State took over in the third quarter.
The Panthers scored five times in the frame, including four goals in the first five minutes out of the break, to seize control and WestConn was never able to rally.
Plymouth State improves to 12-6 and heads back to the LEC Championship game for the tenth straight season. The Panthers will visit the winner of tonight's other semifinal contest between second-seeded Eastern Connecticut State and third-seeded Keene State for the title on Saturday (May 4).
WestConn ends the year at 12-6.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 13, WestConn 8
- Plymouth State (12-6)
- WestConn (12-6)
How it Happened:
- Junior Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) and senior Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) gave PSU an early lead with goals in the first four minutes.
- WestConn got one back midway through the first quarter, but Stowell converted a free position attempt 15 seconds later to restore the two-goal margin, 3-1.
- Seniors Amelia Thomas (Hopkinton, N.H.) and Elle Moshier (Stratford, Conn.) sandwiched goals around a Wolves' tally to make it 5-2 after one. Moshier buried a free position score with just seven seconds left in the frame.
- The hosts rallied in the second, scoring back-to-back goals in a three-minute span to pull within one, 5-4.
- Gaspa answered right back just 23 seconds later, though, sparking a 3-0 surge for the Panthers. Moshier notched another free position score and Thomas whipped home her second of the game for an 8-4 lead with 9:10 before the half.
- WestConn closed the half with a pair of late goals to make it 8-6 at the break.
- PSU took control after the intermission, pouring in all five goals in the frame, including four in the first five minutes of action. Donovan beat the WestConn goalie on another free position attempt to start the surge and Thomas followed with her third of the day.
- Moshier continued the onslaught on a free position tally before senior Tarryn O'Brien (Weymouth, Mass.) pushed the advantage to 12-6 with 10:12 left in the third and Donovan capped the decisive run with a free position goal with 5:26 left in the stanza.
- WestConn mounted a half-hearted comeback attempt with a goal 3:16 into the fourth but Plymouth State locked down on defense. The hosts added a late goal with less than five minutes on the clock to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Donovan, Moshier and Thomas all finished with three goals apiece. Thomas added two caused turnovers and a pair of ground balls.
- Stowell scored twice and hauled in 11 draw controls, while O'Brien also had a multi-point game with a goal and an assist.
- Gaspa finished with four draw controls, three ground balls, and a goal.
- Junior Margie Black (Longmeadow, Mass.) made ten saves in the winning effort.
- Plymouth State dominated the draw control, winning 21-of-25 for the game.
- The Panthers converted on 7-of-9 free position attempts, while WestConn was held scoreless in seven tries.
- Plymouth State has won eight straight games to get back to the championship match for the tenth consecutive season.
- The Panthers are seeking a conference-best tenth title. Last year, PSU, as the second seed, upset top-seeded WestConn in the championship game.
Up Next:
- Fourth-seeded Plymouth State will be on the road for the title game on Saturday (May 4). The Panthers will visit the winner of tonight's other semifinal match between second-seeded Eastern Connecticut and third-seeded Keene State.
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