CASTLETON, Vt. – Senior
Jen Newick (Lee, N.H.) scored in her second straight game and freshman
Natalie Merrick (East Longmeadow, Mass.) made 13 saves, but Vermont State University Castleton rallied with two fourth-quarter goals to edge Plymouth State University, 2-1, in a Little East Conference (LEC) field hockey game at Dave Wolk Stadium on Tuesday night.
Both teams applied pressure throughout the first half. The Spartans held a narrow 5-3 advantage in shots after the opening quarter, but the Panthers stormed back in the second with five attempts on the Castleton cage. Both defensive units were stingy, keeping the game scoreless into halftime.
Plymouth State earned a penalty corner in the opening minute of the third quarter. Junior
Abigale Bsullak (Poland, Maine) shot a shot through traffic that found a waiting Newick, who fired it home for the 1-0 lead. Merrick turned aside multiple shots as PSU carried the one-goal advantage into the fourth.
VTSU Castleton increased the pressure in the final stanza. Merrick continued to hold the Spartans at bay, but a shot deflected off a Spartan forward and into the cage to tie the score with just under 10 minutes remaining. The game appeared destined for overtime, but the Spartans were able to tip in a centering feed in the 56th minute and held on for the 2-1 win.
Plymouth State moves to 5-8 (1-2 LEC), while the Spartans are 6-8 (2-2 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, VTSU Castleton 2
- Plymouth State (5-8, 1-2 LEC)
- VTSU Castleton (6-8, 2-2 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Both defenses shined early as neither team could open the scoring.
- The first half ended scoreless.
- PSU earned a penalty corner less than 30 seconds into the third. Bsullak's shot through traffic found Newick, who calmly deposited the game's first goal for a 1-0 lead.
- Merrick came up big throughout the third, making multiple point-blank saves as the Panthers held their one-goal lead.
- The Spartans kept heavy pressure on the PSU defense in the fourth, tying the score with just under 10 minutes to play.
- The hosts pulled ahead in the 56th minute when a centering feed was tipped into the cage, and Plymouth State was unable to rally.
By the Numbers:
- Newick scored for the second straight game and now leads the team with six goals.
- Merrick made 13 saves.
- Bsullak recorded her third assist of the season.
- PSU held a 14-13 edge in penalty corners.
- The Spartans owned a 15-5 advantage in shots on goal.
- Plymouth State leads the series, 15-10. Each of the last five meetings has been decided by a single goal.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host league-leading Eastern Connecticut State for Senior Day on Saturday (Oct. 25) at noon.
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