SALEM, Mass. – Plymouth State University doubled up Salem State University in corner kick attempts and outshot the hosts, but the Vikings were able to sneak away with a 2-1 win in a non-conference men's soccer matchup at Alumni Field on Wednesday evening.
The Panthers fired eight shots in the opening half, but the Vikings' goalkeeper made five saves to keep the game scoreless. The hosts scored twice in a 35-second span in the 47th minute to take a 2-0 lead, but senior
Sondre Asheim (Klepp, Norway) converted a penalty in the 54th minute to cut the deficit in half. Plymouth State controlled the play the rest of the way but was unable to net the equalizer.
Plymouth State dips to 2-3-0 on the season, while the Vikings stay unbeaten at 3-0-1.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, Salem State 2
- Plymouth State (2-3-0)
- Salem State (3-0-1)
How it Happened:
- Both sides would have chances in the opening half, with Plymouth State controlling the pace for much of the frame. The Vikings' keeper was up to the challenge, though, registering five saves in the stanza as the game remained scoreless into halftime.
- The Vikings struck just 1:16 into the second half to take the lead, then doubled the margin less than a minute later.
- Plymouth State sliced the margin in half when Asheim blasted a PK into the back of the net in the 54th minute.
- The Panthers continued to press for the equalizer, maintaining offensive pressure the rest of the way, but were unable to pull even.
By the Numbers:
- Asheim's tally was his first of the season and the sixth of his career.
- Asheim has scored in all three of his career penalty attempts.
- Senior Walter Driscoll (Kittery Point, Maine) led the Panthers with four shots.
- Classmate Nicolas Cornejo Mora (Durham, N.H.) made five saves in the losing effort.
- Plymouth State had been unbeaten in the last five meetings (4-0-1) and holds a narrow edge in the all-time series (15-13-6) dating back to the 1986 season.
Up Next:
- The Panthers are back home on Tuesday (Sept. 17) for a 4:00 p.m. matchup with VTSU Johnson.
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