PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore goalkeeper
Christa Giansiracusa (Tewksbury, Mass.) made 10 saves and senior
Vicky Taylor (Bellingham, Mass.) anchored the defense as the Plymouth State University women's soccer team downed the Wellesley College Blue, 2-0, at Arold Field on Wednesday afternoon.
After a nervy first half where the Blue spent most of play in the Panthers' defensive end, Plymouth State came out surging to start the second half and freshman
Maggie MacDonald (Pembroke, Mass.) launched a shot into the top corner to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the 56th minute.
Senior
Molly Bellmore (Hebron, Conn.) scored the insurance goal in the 87th minute, which was all the Panthers needed to secure the non-conference victory. Bellmore now sits two goals shy of breaking into the top ten in career goals at Plymouth State.
Plymouth State improves to 3-3-0, while Wellesley falls to 3-2-1.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Wellesley 0
- Plymouth State (3-3-0)
- Wellesley (3-2-1)
How it Happened:
- The Blue earned the first scoring opportunity of the contest in the 3rd minute of play looking to start on the front foot, but Giansiracusa was equal to the task.
- Plymouth State nearly found the back of the net in the 8th minute as freshman Islah Godo (Topsham, Maine) snuck in and forced a diving save to the goalkeeper's left as the score remained 0-0.
- Wellesley started to show its class, controlling much of the run of play and pinning the Panthers back into their defensive half. Plymouth State bared down defensively, turning away every opportunity to frustrate the Blue as the match remained scoreless into halftime.
- The Panthers started the second half with something to prove, bringing the game to Wellesley. In the 56th minute, MacDonald scored a screamer into the top left corner past the outstretched hand of the goalkeeper to give Plymouth State a 1-0 lead.
- Plymouth State did not let up, as Bellmore dribbled past three defenders on the top of the box and rocketed a shot past the goalkeeper to give the Panthers a 2-0 advantage, and secure the win.
By the Numbers:
- The Blue outshot Plymouth State by a margin of 23-7.
- Shots on goal went to Wellesley, 10-6.
- Plymouth State did not record a single corner kick in the contest while the Blue had seven.
- Giansiracusa recorded her second shutout of the season. Her 10 saves were a season-high and just two shy of her career best.
- The match marked just the second meeting between the two programs. Wellesley held on for a 2-0-win last fall.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State returns to conference play on Saturday (Sept. 20), when the Panthers visit WestConn for a 9:30 a.m. matchup with the Wolves.
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