PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Jen Newick (Lee, N.H.) and junior
Sarah Adamske (Windham, N.H.) each scored twice as Plymouth State University defeated the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in a Little East Conference (LEC) field hockey game on Panther Field Saturday afternoon. The game served as the annual
Dorothy "Dot" Diehl Game, honoring the longtime coach and faculty member for her dedication to the advancement of women's sports.
Just over a minute into the contest, Newick banged home a pass from senior
Katie Porrello (Milford, Conn.) in front of the net for her fourth of the season. The Panthers kept the pressure on the UMD defense but were unable to add to the margin as the first quarter ended, 1-0.
Just over five minutes into the second, the PSU offense pressured to earn multiple corners. Adamske got the inserted pass from sophomore
Georgia Coleman (North Conway, N.H.) and blasted one past the goalie to double the lead.
PSU put additional pressure on the defense in the third, hitting the post and creating high quality chances – all turned away by the Corsairs – and the visitors began to gain some opportunities of their own. Freshman goalie
Natalie Merrick (East Longmeadow, Mass.) had to make a handful of saves to keep the Corsairs off the board as the third quarter ended with PSU still leading 2-0.
Newick redirected a shot from junior
Abigale Bsullak (Poland, Maine) on a penalty corner to extend the lead to 3-0 with just over six minutes remaining, and Adamske added her second of the game on a blast from distance to account for the final score.
Plymouth State improves to 5-7 (1-1 LEC), while UMD dips to 1-13 (0-4 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, UMass Dartmouth 0
- Plymouth State (5-7, 1-1 LEC)
- UMass Dartmouth (1-13, 0-4 LEC)
How it Happened:
- PSU took the early lead on Newick's fourth of the season just over a minute into the contest.
- The Panthers kept the pressure on through the first, but the score remained 1-0 after one.
- Just over five minutes into the second, Adamske blasted a shot past the goalie to double the lead and PSU maintained the 2-0 advantage into halftime.
- Merrick and the PSU defense made multiple stops to keep the Corsairs off the board in the third.
- Newick extended the lead when she deflected a Bsullak shot off a penalty corner to make it 3-0 in the 54th minute.
- Adamske blasted another shot past the goalie for her second of the game and a 4-0 lead three minutes later.
By the Numbers:
- Newick and Adamske each scored twice.
- Four of Newick's five goals on the season have been game-winners.
- Merrick made eight saves to earn the shutout.
- Coleman, Bsullak, Porrello, and freshman Cassidy Leger (Bellingham, Mass.) all registered assists.
- Senior Kyla Napolitano (Warwick, R.I.) had a pair of defensive saves.
- Plymouth State owned a 24-10 advantage in shots on goal and a 19-7 edge in penalty corners.
- PSU leads the all-time series, 30-13-1, and has won nine of the last 11 meetings.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State continues its run of five straight conference matchups to end the regular season on Tuesday (Oct. 21) when the Panthers head to VTSU Castleton for a 7 p.m. tilt.
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