PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) tied a career high with seven goals and poured in a career-best 11 points, while classmate
Maddie Hunt (Littleton, Mass.) notched her 200th career point as Plymouth State University rolled past the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 26-7, in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's lacrosse matchup at Panther Field on Saturday afternoon.
Plymouth State completes an unbeaten run through the Little East for the 11th time in program history – and the first since 2019.
The game stayed close through the first ten minutes as the teams traded goals, but Donovan and junior
Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) scored in the final three minutes to give PSU a 6-4 lead after one. The duo combined for four goals and three assists as the Panthers erupted for ten goals in the second to take a commanding 16-6 lead into halftime.
PSU sealed the win in the second half, scoring ten straight goals before the Corsairs added the final tally in the closing 30 seconds.
Hunt became the ninth player in school history to reach the 200-point plateau, while Donovan, who netted her 197th career goal in the contest, is just one marker shy of the second-most goals in program history and three away from becoming only the second Panther to score 200 career goals. Graduate student
Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) dominated the draw circle, collecting 15 draw controls – one shy of the school record – while adding four caused turnovers, three ground balls, a goal, and an assist.
Prior to the game, Plymouth State honored its senior class for their contributions and dedication to the program;
Elle Moshier (Stratford, Conn.),
Margie Black (Longmeadow, Mass.),
Sarah Giniewicz (Pelham, N.H.),
Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.), Donovan, and Hunt.
The win is PSU's 10th straight, improving the Panthers to 14-2 (8-0 LEC), while UMass Dartmouth wraps up the regular season at 9-8 (3-5 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 26, UMass Dartmouth 7
- Plymouth State (14-2, 8-0 LEC)
- UMass Dartmouth (9-8, 3-5 LEC)
How it Happened:
- UMass Dartmouth opened the scoring, but Donovan answered just 26 seconds later, and Hunt converted a feed from Donovan to give PSU a 2-1 lead.
- UMD pulled even, but Hunt's second goal came just 13 seconds later.
- Hunt scored again – her 60th goal of the season – to make it 4-2, though UMD responded with two straight to tie it.
- Donovan and Cunningham scored back-to-back to give the Panthers a 6-4 lead after one.
- Plymouth State pulled away in the second. Cunningham extended the lead to 7-4, and Donovan followed with two goals just 14 seconds apart.
- The Corsairs briefly slowed the momentum, but Gaspa, Cunningham, and sophomore Sammy Murphy (Harrisville, R.I.) answered to push the lead to 12-5.
- UMD cut the deficit to six, but the Panthers closed the half with four straight – including two more from Murphy – to go up 16-6 at the break.
- PSU dominated the second half, scoring all eight goals in the third quarter and two more in the fourth, with Hunt hitting her 200th career point on a goal less than two minutes into the third.
- UMass Dartmouth netted the final goal in the last 30 seconds to cap the scoring.
By the Numbers:
- Donovan poured in a career best 11 points, matching her personal high with seven goals and adding four assists, while also contributing two ground balls and two caused turnovers.
- Hunt (six goals, three assists) and Cunningham (three goals, six assists) each finished with nine points.
- Murphy posted career highs with four goals and five points. Stowell added three goals, two assists, seven draw controls, and two ground balls.
- Gaspa stuffed the stat sheet with 15 draw controls, four caused turnovers, three ground balls, a goal, and an assist. The 15 draw controls are tied for the second-most in a game.
- PSU held a 34-10 edge in shots and controlled 27 of 34 draw controls.
- The Panthers went 11-for-12 on clear attempts while limiting UMD to just 8-for-19.
- Plymouth State has dominated the all-time series, going 27-1 overall and winning the last 18 meetings.
Up Next:
- Top-seeded Plymouth State will host the winner of fourth-seeded Keene State and fifth-seeded Eastern Connecticut State in the LEC Tournament semifinals on Thursday (May 1). Opening draw is set for 4:00 p.m.
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