GORHAM, Maine – Sophomore
Nick Ferro (Smithfield, R.I.) scored for the second straight game, but the University of Southern Maine converted a second-half penalty kick to defeat Plymouth State University, 2-1, in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's soccer matchup at Hannaford Field on Wednesday night.
Needing a win to secure a playoff spot, the Panthers took a 1-0 lead on Ferro's third goal of the season in the 33rd minute. Southern Maine responded with the equalizer just three minutes later, and the teams went into halftime tied, 1-1.
A Southern Maine penalty kick in the 67th minute slipped just beyond the reach of freshman goalkeeper
Bryant Amaral (Coventry, R.I.) to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead. Plymouth State created a pair of chances in the closing minutes but couldn't find the equalizer. A free kick by junior
Rowan McCarthy (Pepperell, Mass.) in the 89th minute was saved, and junior
George Bergin (Brentwood, N.H.) delivered a dangerous cross in the final 15 seconds that narrowly missed sophomore
Luke McLaughlin (Topsham, Maine) on a diving header attempt as Southern Maine held on for the win.
Plymouth State ends the season at 6-8-2 (2-6-0 LEC), marking a two-win improvement from last fall while finishing just two points shy of a playoff spot. Southern Maine improves to 6-5-7 (3-2-3 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, Southern Maine 2
- Plymouth State (6-8-2, 2-6-0 LEC)
- Southern Maine (6-5-7, 3-2-3 LEC)
How it Happened:
- In the 26th minute, junior Christian Torres (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) ripped a shot from the top of the box that was blocked. The rebound fell to freshman Mohammed Ayari (Lynnfield, Mass.), but his shot sailed just over the crossbar.
- Plymouth State struck first in the 33rd minute when McLaughlin delivered a long throw-in into the box and Ferro blasted the ball into the net.
- Southern Maine pulled even in the 36th minute when a through ball split two defenders, setting up a shot inside the left post to tie the game.
- Ferro was fouled at the corner of the box in the 44th minute to earn a free kick. The initial attempt was blocked by the wall, but Bergin collected the rebound, moved around a defender and slipped a pass to McLaughlin. The USM goalkeeper made a diving stop to keep the game tied heading into halftime.
- Amaral sprawled to his left to make a diving save in the 65th minute.
- Two minutes later, Southern Maine converted a penalty kick, lifting a shot toward the right side just beyond Amaral's reach to take a 2-1 lead.
- The Huskies nearly added an insurance goal in the 74th minute, but a header struck the left post before McCarthy headed the ball away and blocked a follow-up shot.
- Freshman Anderson Perez Ramos (Stamford, Conn.) unleashed a shot from distance in the 88th minute, but his attempt sailed wide.
- McCarthy put a free kick from the left side on target, but the Southern Maine goalkeeper leapt to make the save. In the final 15 seconds, Bergin sent a cross toward the far post, but McLaughlin narrowly missed connecting on a diving header as the Huskies escaped with the win.
By the Numbers:
- Ferro's goal was his third of the season and second in as many games.
- McLaughlin recorded his team-leading fourth assist on Ferro's goal.
- Amaral registered seven saves in the setback.
- Torres finished as the team leader in goals (five) and points (13).
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series, 26-10-4, and had been 5-1-1 at Hannaford Field since 2011.
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