PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Clara Wilson (Montpelier, Vt.) gave Plymouth State University an early lead, but the University of Southern Maine responded with three unanswered goals to defeat the Panthers, 3-1, in the Little East Conference (LEC) women's soccer season finale at Arold Field on Wednesday afternoon.
Plymouth State finishes the season at 10-7-0 (1-7-0 LEC), its best record since 2003, when the Panthers finished 10-7-1. Southern Maine improves to 8-9-2 (4-3-1 LEC).
Wilson scored her fourth goal of the season off a set piece in the eighth minute. Southern Maine tied the game on a rebound in the 32nd minute, and the score remained 1-1 at halftime.
The Huskies took the lead in the 73rd minute with a long-range shot that tucked just under the crossbar before adding an insurance goal off the right post in the 83rd minute.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, Southern Maine 3
- Plymouth State (10-7-0, 1-7-0 LEC)
- Southern Maine (8-9-2, 4-3-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Junior Sofia D'Addona (Torrington, Conn.) played a short ball to sophomore Islah Godo (Topsham, Maine) off a set piece just outside the box. Godo's centering pass found Wilson near the back post to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute.
- Southern Maine pulled even in the 32nd minute. Freshman goalkeeper Liv Desruisseaux (Dracut, Mass.) made a diving save on a shot from the top of the box, but the rebound trickled toward a Husky, who knocked it into the open net.
- Senior Piper Sullivan (Laconia, N.H.) won the ball at midfield and sent classmate Emily Olsen (Freeport, Maine) into the left side of the box late in the first half. Olsen's left-footed one-timer beat the goalkeeper but deflected off the crossbar, and a follow-up shot was blocked.
- The teams remained tied 1-1 at halftime.
- Sullivan fired a shot from the left side that the Southern Maine goalkeeper handled, while Desruisseaux controlled a Huskies shot on the counterattack.
- The Huskies took the lead in the 73rd minute on a shot from more than 30 yards out that tucked just under the crossbar. USM added an insurance goal off the right post 10 minutes later to seal the 3-1 win.
By the Numbers:
- Wilson scored her fourth goal of the season, finishing one goal behind senior Drea Oswell (Stafford Springs, Conn.) for the team lead in a three-way tie for second.
- Godo and D'Addona recorded assists. Godo led the Panthers with nine assists and 17 points on the season.
- Desruisseaux made eight saves. She recorded at least six saves in eight of her 13 starts.
- Southern Maine held an 11-5 advantage in shots on goal and an 8-3 edge in corner kicks.
- The Panthers improved by four wins over last season and reached double-digit victories for the first time since 2003.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series, 24-16-1, though the Huskies have won the last six meetings.
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