DANBURY, Conn. – Graduate student
Elle Moshier (Stratford, Conn.) buried a game-winning free position goal with 10.8 seconds remaining as Plymouth State University edged Western Connecticut State University, 11-10, in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's lacrosse game at Westside Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.
PSU entered the fourth quarter with a two-goal cushion, and junior
Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) extended the lead to 10-7 less than two minutes into the frame. WestConn mounted a comeback, however, scoring three straight goals – including the equalizer with just 2:18 left in regulation.
The hosts had a pair of chances to take the lead in the final minute, but senior goalkeeper
Margie Black (Longmeadow, Mass.) came up with two clutch saves to preserve the tie. Black quickly connected with graduate student
Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.), who sprinted up the left side and found Moshier. Moshier charged into the attack zone and drew a foul. On the ensuing free position attempt, she took four steps before firing a shot into the bottom right corner to seal the win.
The Wolves secured the final draw control, but PSU applied heavy pressure through the midfield and the Wolves were unable to attempt a shot as the clock expired.
Plymouth State extended its win streak to six games, improving to 10-2 overall and remaining unbeaten in conference play (4-0 LEC). WestConn, riding a 33-game winning streak in LEC regular season play, drops to 11-2 (3-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 11, WestConn 10
- Plymouth State (10-2, 4-0 LEC)
- WestConn (11-2, 3-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Sophomore Sammy Murphy (Harrisville, R.I.) opened the scoring in the first minute off a feed from senior Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.).
- Donovan doubled the lead with 5:06 left in the first, but the Wolves responded to make it 2-1 after one.
- Donovan restored the two-goal margin early in the second quarter, but WestConn answered with back-to-back goals to tie it at 3-3.
- Late goals from Donovan and senior Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) gave PSU a 5-3 lead before the Wolves scored with 10 seconds left to cut the deficit to 5-4 at the half.
- Stowell and Donovan struck again early in the third to make it 7-4, but WestConn responded once more. After closing the gap to 7-6, PSU capitalized while a WestConn player served a green card, as senior Maddie Hunt (Littleton, Mass.) found the back of the net.
- The Wolves pulled to within one again at 8-7, but Donovan's fifth goal and Cunningham's tally early in the fourth quarter stretched the lead to 10-7.
- WestConn chipped away, eventually tying the game at 10-10 with just over two minutes left.
- The Wolves won the ensuing draw and had two solid looks, but Black's saves kept the game tied. On the counterattack, Gaspa found Moshier, who drew a foul and scored the game-winner on the free position attempt.
By the Numbers:
- Donovan recorded five goals and an assist, moving into third all-time at PSU with 263 career points. Her 182 goals also rank third – just 16 shy of second – and, with four regular season games remaining, she has a realistic shot at becoming only the second player in program history to reach 200 career goals.
- Cunningham posted a goal and three assists.
- Stowell finished with two goals and a team-high seven draw controls.
- Gaspa anchored the defense with five ground balls and three caused turnovers.
- Black made 11 saves and added five ground balls. She now ranks fifth in program history with 308 career saves.
- Only 14 of WestConn's 33 shots were on goal, while PSU put 17 of 24 shots on target.
- The Wolves had slight edges in ground balls (21-16) and draw controls (15-10).
- WestConn had won four straight regular season matchups, but PSU eliminated the Wolves in the LEC Tournament the last two years. The Panthers lead the all-time series, 20-11.
- The Wolves' last LEC regular season loss came in 2019.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hosts Southern Maine in another league game on Wednesday (Apr. 16) at 4:00 p.m.
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