PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Molly Bellmore (Hebron, Conn.) recorded her 19th and 20th career goals as the Plymouth State University women's soccer team defeated the Nichols College Bison, 5-2, in a non-conference matchup on Arold Field on Saturday morning.
Bellmore became the 12th player in PSU women's soccer history to reach the 20-goal threshold in the 42nd minute, providing the Panthers with a comfortable 4-1 halftime advantage. The senior ended the morning with two goals and an assist, not to be overshadowed by a five-point performance by freshman
Maggie MacDonald (two goals, one assist).
MacDonald now has four goals in her first three collegiate appearances, a feat last performed by Bellmore during her freshman campaign. Adding to the Panther scoreline was freshman
Islah Godo (Topsham, Maine), who scored on a pass from senior
Emily McDonough (Peabody, Mass.) in the 14th minute.
Plymouth State improves to 2-1-0 in the early season, while Nichols drops to 0-4-0.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 5, Nichols 2
- Plymouth State (2-1-0)
- Nichols (0-4-0)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers opened scoring on their first opportunity of the game as Bellmore showed great patience in a 1-on-2 situation, playing a ball down the left side to a MacDonald supporting run. The freshman blasted the goal into the top of the net to take a 1-0 lead in the 6th minute.
- Nichols responded in the 12th minute by roofing an equalizer on a counterattack to even things up at one.
- Plymouth State wasted no time to regain the lead. MacDonald returned the favor to Bellmore, as the striker blasted a shot past the unsuspecting goalkeeper to take a 2-1 advantage just over a minute after the Bisons' goal.
- PSU added an insurance goal on a Godo shot that looped over the opposing goalkeeper and nestled into the far post side netting to go up 3-1 in the 36th minute.
- The Panthers put the game out of reach with a second tally from Bellmore in the 42nd minute as Plymouth State took at comfortable 4-1 lead into the halftime break.
- Nichols scored in the opening minute of the second half to close the gap to 4-2, setting the table for a hopeful comeback.
- MacDonald made sure any Bisons' surge would be squelched with her second goal of the game in 72nd minute of play.
By the Numbers:
- Plymouth State outshot the Bison, 20-11.
- Shots on goal were in Plymouth's favor, 13-11.
- Each team recorded three corner kicks.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Christa Giansiracusa (Tewksbury, Mass.) made nine saves in the winning effort.
- The teams had split the previous six meetings, with Nichols earning a 4-2 win at home last September.
- Plymouth State now holds a 4-3 record against the Bison dating back to 2018.
Up Next:
- PSU hosts Norwich in non-conference action on Tuesday (Sept. 9) at 5:00 p.m.
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