PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Sofia D'Addona (Torrington, Conn.) scored her first career goal in the 75th minute to lead Plymouth State University to a 2-1 win over Fitchburg State University in a non-conference women's soccer game at Arold Field on Monday afternoon.
The Panthers dominated the opening half, outshooting Fitchburg State, 16-3, but the game remained scoreless at halftime. Plymouth State needed less than 30 seconds in the second half to break through as sophomore
Maggie MacDonald (Pembroke, Mass.) one-timed a centering feed from senior
Piper Sullivan (Laconia, N.H.) for the 1-0 lead.
D'Addona doubled the margin in the 75th minute, but the Falcons responded four minutes later to make it a one-goal game. Fitchburg State pressed for the equalizer but was unable to generate any additional chances as Plymouth State held on for the win.
Plymouth State improves to 8-3-0, while Fitchburg State drops to 0-5-6.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Fitchburg State 1
- Plymouth State (8-3-0)
- Fitchburg State (0-5-6)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State came out strong, forcing the Falcons' goalkeeper into multiple saves in the first ten minutes.
- PSU's best chance came in the 25th minute when Sullivan and sophomore Islah Godo (Topsham, Maine) worked a give-and-go in the box, but Sullivan's shot hit the crossbar, and the goalkeeper smothered Godo's rebound attempt.
- The game remained scoreless into the halftime break.
- The Panthers broke through in the opening seconds of the second half. Freshman Bella Coporale (Stafford Springs, Conn.) sent a throw-in to Sullivan near the goal line at the edge of the box. Sullivan made a centering pass and MacDonald volleyed it into the net for the 1-0 lead.
- PSU doubled the margin in the 75th minute. Godo played a ball wide to sophomore Sophie West (Rochester, N.H.), who dribbled up the right side before sending a pass into the box. D'Addona beat the goalkeeper to the ball and deposited a shot into the left corner to make it 2-0.
- Fitchburg State answered four minutes later, tucking a well-struck ball from 30 yards out into the top left corner to make it a one-goal game.
- Searching for the equalizer, the Falcons continued to press, but freshman Sam Nikou (North Attleboro, Mass.), sophomore Isabella Bovell (Claremont, N.H.) and the Panther back line prevented Fitchburg State from generating any additional chances.
- Sophomore Corinne Palhof (Loudon, N.H.) nearly added an insurance goal in the 87th minute, but her shot sailed high.
- Palhof had one additional chance in the final minute of play as she ran onto a ball from Coporale. The goalkeeper came out, and Palhof touched the ball past her, but her shot was cleared out by a defender.
By the Numbers:
- MacDonald's goal was her team-leading fourth of the season.
- D'Addona tallied her first career goal.
- Sullivan leads the team with four assists.
- Coporale and West also picked up assists.
- Freshman Liv Desruisseaux (Dracut, Mass.) needed just two saves to earn the win.
- Plymouth State held a 30-11 advantage in shots, including a 10-3 edge in shots on goal.
- The Panthers earned 10 corner kicks to Fitchburg State's three.
- The all-time series is even at 2-2. The last three contests have been decided by a single goal, though this was the first meeting since 2010.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State returns to Little East Conference (LEC) action Wednesday (Oct. 7) with a trip to Keene State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
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