PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Natalie Merrick (East Longmeadow, Mass.) made a season-high 15 saves, but Vermont State University Castleton erased a 2-0 fourth-quarter deficit to edge Plymouth State University, 3-2, in double overtime in a Little East Conference (LEC) field hockey game at Panther Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Junior
Georgia Coleman (North Conway, N.H.) scored her seventh goal of the season late in the first quarter. Freshman
Amelia Avery (Campton, N.H.) sent a pass along the goal line to Coleman, who slammed it home for a 1-0 lead. The game remained tight through the rest of the first half, with PSU carrying its slim advantage into the break.
Shortly after halftime, the Panthers capitalized. Graduate student
Ellie Monahan (Watertown, Mass.) received a pass on the far side, then sent the ball across the front of the goal to junior
Lexi Berrettini (Lake Bluff, Ill.), who found the back of the cage to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Spartans battled back in the fourth quarter, scoring twice in less than three minutes to tie the game at 2-2. Strong defensive play highlighted the first overtime, with Merrick making several key stops. Plymouth State nearly won it off a penalty corner early in the second overtime, stringing together a series of quick passes to set up a chance at the far post, but the ball skipped just past a stick and across the end line. Castleton countered and capitalized on a loose ball following a couple of deflections, slipping it past Merrick for the 3-2 win.
Plymouth State slips to 5-10 (3-1 LEC), while VTSU Castleton improves to 5-9 (2-2 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, VTSU Castleton 3 (2OT)
- Plymouth State (5-10, 3-1 LEC)
- VTSU Castleton (5-9, 2-2 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers struck first late in the opening quarter when Avery set up Coleman for a 1-0 lead.
- The score remained 1-0 at halftime.
- Berrettini scored her 10th goal of the season early in the third quarter to double the lead. Monahan sent a pass across the goal to Berrettini, who slammed it home.
- The Spartans stormed back in the fourth quarter, scoring twice in less than three minutes to tie the game at 2-2.
- Merrick turned aside five shots in the first overtime as neither defense gave ground.
- Plymouth State earned a penalty corner just over two minutes into the second overtime. The Panthers strung together five quick passes, with the final pass finding an unmarked player at the far post, but the ball skipped just past her stick.
- The Spartans countered, pouncing on a loose ball and sending it into the cage to secure the win.
By the Numbers:
- Merrick's 15 saves were a season high.
- Sophomore Cassidy Leger (Bellingham, Mass.) recorded a key defensive save late in the second quarter to help PSU maintain its 1-0 lead at halftime.
- Berrettini scored her team-leading 10th goal of the season, while Coleman's goal was her seventh.
- Berrettini also leads the Panthers with 28 points.
- PSU leads the all-time series, 15-11, but the Spartans have won the last three meetings. Each of the last six games has been decided by a single goal, including three that required overtime.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State travels to Eastern Connecticut State on Saturday (Oct. 24) for a 3 p.m. LEC matchup with the Warriors.
– 30 –
