PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University women's soccer team fell to the Rhode Island College Anchorwomen, 5-1, in the Little East Conference (LEC) opener at Arold Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Anchorwomen were able to score two goals on either side of halftime to put the game into cruise control. Senior
Molly Bellmore (Hebron, Conn.) scored the Panthers' only goal on a penalty kick to bring the game to 4-1, but Rhode Island College scored its fifth and final goal to close the door on any comeback hope.
Bellmore led the Panthers with three of the team's 10 shots, while freshmen
Maggie MacDonald (Pembroke, Mass.) and
Clara Wilson (Montpelier, Vt.), and junior
Ava Knighton (Clayton, Del.) rounded out the attack with two shots apiece.
Plymouth State falls to 2-3-0 (0-1-0 LEC), while RIC moves to 4-2-0 (1-0-0 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, RIC 5
- Plymouth State (2-3-0, 0-1-0 LEC)
- RIC (4-2-0, 1-0-0 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers started fast from the first whistle, forcing two saves from the RIC goalkeeper in the first 10 minutes, as play remained scoreless.
- A minute later, the Anchorwomen struck first, burying a shot in the top right corner to take a 1-0 lead.
- RIC used the momentum to force Plymouth State into its own defensive half, registering the next four shots – all missing high.
- Pressure mounted as the Anchorwomen doubled their advantage (2-0) in the 38th minute on a break along the right side which found a window to loop a shot up over the Panthers' goalkeeper.
- PSU prevented any further damage to close out the first half down 2-0.
- Moments into the second half, MacDonald had a 1-on-1 but the RIC goalkeeper made the save.
- The Anchorwomen started to pile on, as the team registered back-to-back second half goals to extend the margin to 4-0 with 25 minutes left in action.
- Bellmore took advantage of a clumsy tackle just inside the box, popping a penalty kick off the crossbar and in with 22 minutes left to bring the scoreline to 4-1.
- RIC scored the final goal of the match in the 78th minute to take home the victory.
By the Numbers:
- The Anchorwomen outshot Plymouth State, 18-10.
- Each team recorded seven shots on goal.
- The Panthers registered two corner kicks to three for RIC.
- RIC has now won three consecutive meetings for only the second time in the series dating back to 1995.
- The Anchorwomen had never defeated the Panthers by a four-goal margin.
- Plymouth State has controlled the all-time series (22-13-2) despite RIC's recent success.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State remains home to face Wellesley College in a non-conference clash on Wednesday (Sept. 17). Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m.
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