PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Aiden O'Loughlin (Londonderry, N.H.) poured in a career-high four goals and Plymouth State University used a 6-0 surge to get past the University of New England, 11-7, in non-conference men's lacrosse action at Panther Field on Friday afternoon.
O'Loughlin opened the scoring just over 30 seconds in and Plymouth State would stay in front the rest of the way. PSU jumped out to a 2-0 advantage and the teams traded goals late into the second quarter. With the Panthers holding a 4-3 lead, O'Loughlin's second of the game pushed the margin to 5-3 at the break, sparking a 6-0 spurt that helped put the game out of reach.
Plymouth State scored all four goals of the third quarter and senior
Ryan Jones (Tolland, Conn.) opened the fourth quarter with a tally as the lead grew to 10-3.
UNE attempted a late rally with a three-goal spurt, but Plymouth State's defense stepped up to prevent the comeback as the Panthers held on for the win.
Plymouth State evens out at 1-1, while the Nor'easters suffered their first setback of the year (3-1).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 11, UNE 7
- Plymouth State (1-1)
- UNE (3-1)
How it Happened:
- O'Loughlin opened the game with his first goal of the year just 36 seconds in and senior Crosby Fay (Thornton, N.H.) made it 2-0 four minutes later.
- The teams traded goals as PSU held a 3-1 lead after one.
- The back-and-forth game continued in the second quarter. UNE cut the deficit to one, but Fay answered back. The visitors again made it a one-score game with three minutes before halftime, but O'Loughlin responded just over a minute later as PSU carried a 5-3 lead into halftime.
- The Panthers controlled play throughout the third quarter. Senior Ryan Collins (Attleboro, Mass.) found the back of the cage three minutes into the third, and O'Loughlin made it 7-3 midway through the stanza.
- Jones and sophomore Kevin Cougler (Dover, N.H.) added third-quarter tallies and Jones scored early in the fourth as the Plymouth State advantage ballooned to 10-3.
- UNE attempted a late comeback, using a 3-0 spurt to pull within 10-6, but O'Loughlin restored order with his fourth goal of the day during a man-up opportunity and PSU's defense surrendered just one goal the rest of the way.
By the Numbers:
- O'Loughlin's four goals were a career high.
- Jones and Fay finished with two goals and an assist apiece.
- Sophomore Aiden Renner (Phillipsburg, N.J.) posted a goal and an assist and scooped up a game-high eight ground balls.
- Collins and senior Joey Loeber (Chelmsford, Mass.) each grabbed four ground balls and posted four caused turnovers apiece.
- PSU held a 34-31 advantage in shots and a 24-16 lead in shots on goal.
- Senior Ethan Schena (Methuen, Mass.) made nine saves to pick up the win.
- The Panthers were a perfect 20-for-20 on clear attempts, while UNE went 18-for-25.
- Plymouth State finished 1-for-2 in man-up situations, while holding UNE to just 1-for-6.
- PSU has won each of the last three meetings, though the Nor'easters lead the all-time series by a narrow 7-6 margin.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hosts Norwich in non-conference action on Tuesday (Mar. 4) at 3:00 p.m.
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