PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Brady Hunt (Billerica, Mass.) notched a hat trick and freshman
Colby Walden (Londonderry, N.H.) added two goals and three assists as Plymouth State University knocked off the University of New England, 9-5, in non-conference men's lacrosse action at Panther Field on Thursday afternoon.
Playing at home for the first time this spring, Walden set up Hunt in the final seconds of the first quarter to give PSU a 1-0 lead. The duo connected again early in the second to extend the margin to 3-0, but UNE answered with back-to-back goals later in the frame to pull within one. The teams traded scores, and Hunt's third of the day just before halftime gave the Panthers a 5-3 cushion at the break.
The Nor'easters cut the deficit to 5-4 five minutes into the third quarter, but PSU answered with a 4-0 run spanning the late third and most of the fourth quarters to pull away. UNE added one final goal with less than two minutes remaining to account for the final score.
Plymouth State improves to 2-2, while the Nor'easters move to 2-4.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 9, UNE 5
- Plymouth State (2-2)
- UNE (2-4)
How it Happened:
- The game remained scoreless until the closing seconds of the first quarter when Hunt converted a feed from Walden with just 13 seconds on the clock.
- Sophomore Blake McPherson (Windham, Maine) doubled the lead two minutes into the second, and Walden set up Hunt again just over two minutes later to make it 3-0.
- UNE scored back-to-back goals to pull within 3-2 with four minutes left before halftime.
- Junior Kevin Cougler (Dover, N.H.) made it 4-2 with less than two minutes to go, but the Nor'easters answered back just 37 seconds later.
- Hunt scored again in the final seconds to give the Panthers a 5-3 halftime lead.
- UNE cut the deficit to one, 5-4, at the 5:29 mark of the third quarter, but the Panthers responded.
- Walden scored his first of the afternoon with three minutes left and senior Zach Marvel (Raynham, Mass.) beat the goalie after a long run up the right side to make it 7-4 heading to the fourth quarter.
- Walden converted a man-up opportunity late in the fourth, and freshman Seamus Tattan (West Roxbury, Mass.) snagged a loose ball in front of the crease and flipped it in to extend the lead to 9-4 with 2:29 remaining.
- The Nor'easters scored once more to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Walden finished with five points (two goals, three assists) to take over the team lead with 12 points on the season. He added two caused turnovers.
- Hunt's hat trick was the ninth of his career.
- McPherson and Tattan notched a goal and an assist apiece.
- Junior Cameron Leeds (Derry, N.H.) corralled seven ground balls and caused three turnovers – both game highs.
- Freshman Ryan McInnis (Bridgewater, Mass.) won 9-of-13 faceoffs.
- Graduate goalie Ethan Schena (Methuen, Mass.) made 10 saves.
- Plymouth State held a 20-15 advantage in shots on goal and won the ground ball battle, 30-27.
- The Panthers were 18-for-21 on clears. UNE was 22-for-27.
- PSU finished 1-for-3 on man-up opportunities and held the Nor'easters scoreless in four chances.
- The all-time series is deadlocked at 7-7. Plymouth State has won each of the last four meetings.
Up Next:
- The Panthers travel to Curry on Saturday (Mar. 14) for a 2 p.m. clash with the Colonels.
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