DANBURY, Conn. – Senior
Ethan Schena (Methuen, Mass.) made 18 saves, and classmates
Crosby Fay (Thornton, N.H.) and
Ryan Collins (Attleboro, Mass.) scored two goals apiece, but Western Connecticut State University snapped a tie game late in the fourth quarter to edge Plymouth State University, 9-8, in Little East Conference (LEC) men's lacrosse action at Westside Athletic Complex on Sunday afternoon.
The teams traded goals throughout the game, with PSU scoring the final two goals of the second quarter to take a 6-4 halftime lead. Fay struck early in the third to extend the margin, but WestConn responded with four straight goals for an 8-7 advantage early in the fourth.
Collins pulled the Panthers even with 11:45 remaining, but the Wolves went ahead for good with 5:20 left, and PSU was unable to find the equalizer before time expired.
Plymouth State falls to 4-3 (0-1 LEC), while WestConn improves to 4-6 (1-0 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 8, WestConn 9
- Plymouth State (4-3, 0-1 LEC)
- WestConn (4-6, 1-0 LEC)
How it Happened:
- WestConn opened the scoring roughly three minutes in, but sophomore Kevin Cougler (Dover, N.H.) answered to even the score. The hosts reclaimed the lead at the five-minute mark.
- Fay and Collins scored back-to-back goals as PSU took its first lead, 3-2, midway through the first, but WestConn responded late in the quarter to knot the score at 3-3.
- Senior Ryan Jones (Tolland, Conn.) restored the Panthers' lead, but once again the Wolves answered to tie it at 4-4.
- Senior Aiden O'Loughlin (Londonderry, N.H.) and sophomore Aiden Renner (Phillipsburg, N.J.) closed the half with consecutive goals, giving PSU a 6-4 advantage at the break.
- Fay notched his second of the day early in the third to push the lead to 7-4, but WestConn scored twice to pull within one, 7-6, heading to the fourth.
- The Wolves tallied consecutive goals to jump ahead, 8-7, with just over 12 minutes on the clock, but Collins quickly evened the score.
- WestConn broke the tie with 5:20 left and PSU was unable to rally.
By the Numbers:
- Schena's 18 saves were just three shy of his career best.
- Fay and Collins finished with two goals apiece. Fay added a ground ball and caused turnover, while Collins scooped up two ground balls.
- O'Loughlin posted a three-point game with a goal and two assists.
- Senior Zach Gilvar (Stratham, N.H.) recorded team highs of four ground balls and three caused turnovers.
- WestConn held a 27-13 advantage in shots on goal.
- PSU was solid on the clear, converting 26-of-28 chances, while the Wolves were 21-for-23.
- Each of the last two regular season meetings has been decided by a single goal. PSU leads the all-time series, 16-12.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host UMass Boston in another league game on Saturday (Mar. 29) at noon.
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