CASTLETON, Vt. – It was another record-setting performance for the Plymouth State University women's lacrosse team as the Panthers exploded past Vermont State University Castleton, 28-1, in a Little East Conference (LEC) matchup at Dave Wolk Stadium on Wednesday night.
Junior
Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.), who set new records for assists and points in a game just four days ago, matched her own marks with another nine-assist, 13-point performance, while Plymouth State's 28 goals broke a 24-year-old record. Senior
Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) established a new program-best with 17 draw controls and now ranks second in program history with 403, just 15 shy of the career record. PSU also set a team record for draw controls (28), while senior
Maddie Hunt (Littleton, Mass.) scored nine goals, just one shy of the school record.
With her four goals, classmate
Julia Donovan (Antrim, N.H.) moved into third place on the Panthers' all-time goals list with 177. Her 257 career points rank fourth all-time.
Plymouth State scored five times in the opening five minutes before the Spartans momentarily slowed the momentum. PSU responded with another seven first-quarter tallies to take a 12-1 lead after the opening frame, setting the stage for a record-breaking offensive outburst.
The Panthers have won five straight games, averaging more than 22 goals per game while outscoring opponents by a combined 111-21 during that span.
Plymouth State improves to 9-2 (3-0 LEC), while the Spartans dip to 2-10 (0-4 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 28, VTSU Castleton 1
- Plymouth State (9-2, 3-0 LEC)
- VTSU Castleton (2-10, 0-4 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Stowell and Cunningham each scored in the opening minute. Donovan followed with back-to-back goals, and Hunt's first of the night made it 5-0 just 3:46 into the game.
- Castleton briefly halted the Panthers' momentum with a goal, but Cunningham set up Hunt twice, and graduate student Elle Moshier (Stratford, Conn.) followed with one of her own to make it 8-1.
- Donovan, Cunningham, and sophomore Sammy Murphy (Harrisville, R.I.) all found the back of the net before Hunt's fourth of the quarter pushed the lead to 12-1 after one. Cunningham tallied five assists in the opening 15 minutes.
- Hunt continued her scoring spree, netting three more goals around a marker from Cunningham. Moshier scored her second of the night, while Stowell and Murphy added to the total, giving PSU a 19-1 lead at halftime.
- The Panthers added seven more goals in the third quarter. Stowell opened the second-half scoring, while Hunt and graduate student Megan Gaspa (Laconia, N.H.) each scored three.
- Moshier and Donovan closed out the scoring in the fourth.
By the Numbers:
- Hunt's 10 goals tied PSU Hall of Famer Katie Sheridan, who achieved the feat in 2003.
- Cunningham finished with 12 points, one shy of her school record set in the Panthers' last game. Her nine assists tied her own mark from that same contest.
- Donovan posted four goals and an assist to move into third on PSU's all-time leading list.
- Stowell, Moshier, and Gaspa each recorded hat tricks, while Murphy added two goals and two assists.
- Stowell matched the school record with 16 draw controls, surpassing the 400-career mark. She is now just 16 shy of the all-time record.
- Gaspa contributed nine draw controls and three caused turnovers.
- PSU held a 32-2 advantage in shots on goal.
- Plymouth State went 5-of-6 on clear attempts, while limiting Castleton to 6-of-12.
- The Panthers dominated ground balls, 15-4, and won 28-of-32 draw controls.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series, 28-1, and has won 10 straight against the Spartans.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits WestConn on Saturday (Apr. 12) for a battle between the last two unbeaten teams in LEC play. Opening draw is set for 1:00 p.m.
– 30 –
