PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University Panthers fell short 3-0 to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in Little East Conference (LEC) women's soccer action at Arold Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Corsairs struck once in the first half and added two second-half insurance goals to come away with the win. Plymouth State's attack started to come to life in the second half, but the Corsairs' defense was able to hold the Panthers at bay.
Plymouth State falls to 6-9-0 (0-5-0 LEC), while the Corsairs move to 6-6-3 (2-3-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, UMass Dartmouth 3
- Plymouth State (6-9-0, 0-5-0 LEC)
- UMass Dartmouth (6-6-3, 2-3-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers got off to a solid start pushing the ball up the field and creating the game's first corner kick.
- UMass Dartmouth began to create some changes of their own, including the first shot on target, but senior goalkeeper Sydney Rowe (Cañon City, Colo.) made a comfortable save to end the threat.
- The Corsairs struck first with a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that snuck under the gloves of Rowe.
- The remainder of the first half went back and forth as the Corsairs fired off four more shots and the Panthers managed to generate three corner kick opportunities.
- UMass Dartmouth started off fast in the second half poking home a loose ball in the 6-yard box to double the lead.
- Plymouth State created another close chance as freshman Gracey LeBlanc (Gilmanton, N.H.) connected on a header off a corner from classmate Islah Godo (Topsham, Maine) that just missed the top right corner.
- Senior Piper Sullivan (Laconia, N.H.) created the best chance of the match for the Panthers as she used her speed to beat two defenders and get a chance on goal, but her shot was denied by the UMD keeper.
- The Panthers continued to threaten, as Sullivan's cross to an open Godo in front was headed just off target.
- The Corsairs finished off the scoring for the day with a goal in the final few minutes.
By the Numbers:
- Rowe collected four saves in her fifth start of the season.
- UMass Dartmouth outshot the Panthers, 14-5.
- The Corsairs finished with a 7-6 edge in corner kicks.
- PSU leads the series, 20-12-6, with several close games of late. Of the last 12 meetings, four resulted in ties, with three meetings being decided in overtime, including two double-overtime contests.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hosts Keene State in another important LEC contest on Wednesday (Oct. 22) at 3 p.m.
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