WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior
Aiden Renner (Phillipsburg, N.J.) matched a career high with five goals as Plymouth State University ran past Clark University, 9-3, in a non-conference men's lacrosse game at Granger Athletic Complex on Tuesday night.
Renner opened the scoring and freshman
Hunter Richards (Durham, Maine) netted his first career goal as PSU took a 2-0 lead in the opening quarter. Clark cut the deficit in half, but Renner's second of the frame sparked a 5-0 surge that carried into the third quarter as the Panthers built a 7-1 advantage.
The Cougars scored back-to-back goals to pull within 7-3 early in the fourth, but Renner's final tally of the night halted the spurt and PSU added one more to account for the final score.
Plymouth State improves to 1-2, while the Cougars fall to 0-5.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 9, Clark 3
- Plymouth State (1-2)
- Clark (0-5)
How it Happened:
- Renner opened the scoring roughly nine minutes in as he whipped a shot to the top left corner and Richards doubled the lead with a deep shot two minutes later.
- The Cougars responded 16 seconds later, but Renner restored the two-goal margin late in the frame as PSU held a 3-1 lead after the first quarter.
- Richards shook a defender to create space before burying his second of the night to make it 4-1 early in the second, and the score held into halftime.
- Plymouth State pulled away with three goals in less than three minutes in the third quarter. Renner dodged around a defender to make it 5-1 midway through the frame and freshman James Celio (Amston, Conn.) fired a long shot into the cage less than a minute later. Renner capped the spurt with 4:14 left in the third to push the margin to 7-1.
- Clark converted a man-up chance in the final minute of the third, then scored again early in the fourth to pull within 7-3, but Renner's fifth of the night ended the rally before freshman Seamus Tattan (West Roxbury, Mass.) sealed the win in the final minute.
By the Numbers:
- Renner's five goals tied a career high, while his six points were one shy of his personal best. He added a game-high eight ground balls and won 4-of-5 faceoffs.
- Richards finished with two goals and an assist.
- Freshman Colby Walden (Londonderry, N.H.) registered three assists.
- Tattan scooped up seven ground balls.
- Junior Cameron Leeds (Derry, N.H.) led the defense with three caused turnovers. Senior Zach Marvel (Raynham, Mass.) chipped in two.
- Graduate goalie Ethan Schena (Methuen, Mass.) made nine saves.
- PSU held a 17-12 advantage in shots on goal.
- The Panthers went 2-for-8 in extra man opportunities. Clark finished 1-for-9.
- Plymouth State was 17-for-18 in clears, while limiting the Cougars to 14-for-20.
- PSU won the ground ball battle by a 36-30 margin.
- The all-time series is tied at 7-7. Clark's three goals scored were the fewest by the Cougars in the history of the matchup.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hosts the University of New England for the home opener on Thursday (Mar. 12) at 4 p.m.
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