PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Luke McLaughlin (Topsham, Maine) gave Plymouth State University a first-half lead, but Keene State College rallied with three second-half goals to top the Panthers, 3-1, in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's soccer match at Arold Field on Wednesday afternoon.
McLaughlin fought through a defender to one-time a long ball over the top sent by freshman
Daniel Hancock (Windham, Maine) and give PSU a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute. The Panthers carried the one-goal advantage into halftime.
Keene State pulled even in the 59th minute, then went ahead nine minutes later. Junior
Christian Torres (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) nearly equalized in the 80th minute, but the Keene State goalkeeper made a diving stop of his shot destined for inside the right post. The Owls added an insurance goal two minutes later to secure the result.
Plymouth State falls to 5-5-1 (2-3-0 LEC), while the Owls improve to 2-7-3 (1-2-2 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, Keene State 3
- Plymouth State (5-5-1, 2-3-0 LEC)
- Keene State (2-7-3, 1-2-2 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Freshman Krish Patel (Uxbridge, Mass.) settled a clearance at midfield before finding Hancock with a pass. Hancock lofted a long ball over the top, and McLaughlin muscled his way around the KSC defender before firing a shot inside the left post for a 1-0 lead.
- Keene State had a chance to pull even in the 24th minute on a dangerous free kick from just outside the corner of the box, but freshman goalkeeper Bryant Amaral (Coventry, R.I.) leapt to his right to snare the ball out of the air.
- Neither team generated any additional chances in the opening half, as PSU carried the 1-0 lead into halftime.
- The Owls nearly tied it in the 58th minute, but an initial shot struck the right post, and freshman Jeremiah Rodriguez (Los Angeles, Calif.) blocked the rebound attempt before Amaral dove on the loose ball.
- Just a minute later, Keene State worked a give-and-go along the top of the box before a shot from the left side was redirected at the six to even the score.
- Hancock fired a left-footed blast from 20 yards out roughly seven minutes later, but the Owls' goalkeeper controlled the shot.
- Keene State took the lead in the 68th minute with a low shot to the far post.
- Torres nearly equalized in the 80th minute, but a diving stop by the Keene State goalkeeper denied his bid.
- The Owls countered with an insurance goal two minutes later to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- McLaughlin's goal was his second of the season.
- Patel recorded his second assist of the year, while Hancock registered his first career assist.
- Amaral finished with four saves.
- Corner kicks were even at 3-3.
- The Owls had seven shots on goal to PSU's three.
- Keene State received five yellow cards.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host Fitchburg State on Tuesday (Oct. 13) at 3 p.m.
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