PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) established a new program record for career draw controls, while classmate
Maddie Hunt (Littleton, Mass.) led the offense with seven goals as Plymouth State University soared past the University of Southern Maine, 17-5, in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's lacrosse game at Panther Field on Wednesday afternoon.
Stowell claimed the record with her final draw control in the closing minutes, surpassing Molly Gleason '15 for the top spot with her 419th draw in just three seasons.
Southern Maine struck first just 29 seconds in, but Stowell's goal at the three-minute mark ignited a 10-0 run that stretched nearly to halftime. Hunt scored three times during the surge, while junior
Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) added a pair. PSU took a commanding 10-2 lead into halftime.
Hunt added back-to-back goals early in the third quarter to push the lead to 14-2, before the Huskies responded with a three-goal burst to cut the margin to single digits five minutes into the fourth. Hunt capped her dominant outing with two final tallies in the last five-plus minutes as the Panthers cruised to victory.
Plymouth State extended its win streak to seven, improving to 11-2 (5-0 LEC), while Southern Maine dropped to 9-5 (3-2 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 17, Southern Maine 5
- Plymouth State (11-2, 5-0 LEC)
- Southern Maine (9-5, 3-2 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The Huskies opened the scoring just 29 seconds in, but Stowell answered to spark a decisive run.
- Senior Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) scored her first of the day, and Stowell converted again while USM was shorthanded to make it 3-1.
- Sophomore Sammy Murphy (Harrisville, R.I.), who recorded two early assists, added a goal of her own midway, and Hunt closed the first quarter with a tally to make it 5-1.
- Hunt and Cunningham went back-to-back early in the second, then Stowell and Cunningham scored just 26 seconds apart to push the lead to 9-1.
- Cunningham assisted Hunt's hat trick goal with under three minutes left in the half, but USM halted the 10-goal run to make it 10-2 at the break.
- Hunt struck twice in the opening minutes of the third before graduate students Elle Moshier (Stratford, Conn.) and Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) added goals to stretch the margin to 14-2.
- USM answered with two late third-quarter goals, then added another early in the fourth to pull within 14-5.
- Hunt tallied her final two goals, sandwiched around from Donovan, to close out the scoring.
By the Numbers:
- Stowell has totaled 419 draw controls in just 52 games over three seasons – 12 fewer contests than Gleason. She finished with nine draw controls, three goals, and one caused turnover.
- Hunt racked up seven goals, three ground balls, and one caused turnover. She has scored five or more goals in four of her last six games.
- Donovan and Cunningham each tallied two goals and an assist, while Murphy also notched a three-point performance (1G, 2A).
- Donovan led the team with four ground balls.
- Gaspa and sophomore Grace Campo (Chelmsford, Mass.) tied for the game high with two caused turnovers each.
- Senior Margie Black (Longmeadow, Mass.) made seven saves to pick up the win.
- PSU held a 27-12 advantage in shots and converted 11-of-12 clear attempts.
- The Panthers have now won 26 of 29 meetings and seven straight in the series.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State travels to Eastern Connecticut State on Saturday (Apr. 19) for a 4:00 p.m. matchup with the Warriors.
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