PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – Senior
Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) recorded four goals and two assists, but Westfield State University used a 7-0 run spanning the second and third quarters to defeat Plymouth State University, 18-10, at the Spring Fling Women's Lacrosse Tournament at Publix Sports Park on Tuesday morning.
The Owls scored all five goals of the third quarter to build a 16-5 lead heading into the fourth. Plymouth State attempted a furious rally, with Cunningham scoring three times and adding an assist in the final 15 minutes. The Panthers got as close as 16-9 midway through the frame, but Westfield added two goals to halt the comeback.
Plymouth State falls to 1-4, while Westfield State improves to 2-3.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 10, Westfield State 18
- Plymouth State (1-4)
- Westfield State (2-3)
How it Happened:
- Sophomore Gracie Menicci (Pepperell, Mass.) started the scoring just over a minute into the first quarter, but the Owls answered 33 seconds later.
- Freshman Evelyn Goudreau (Topsham, Maine) restored the Panthers' lead, 2-1, at the 4:35 mark but Westfield responded with a 5-0 run that stretched into the second quarter.
- Cunningham buried her first goal to cut the deficit to 6-3 early in the second, but the Owls followed with three straight tallies.
- Goudreau and freshman Karina Bosco (North Dighton, Mass.) each scored to trim the margin, but Westfield State struck twice in the final 1:33 to take an 11-5 lead into halftime.
- The Owls scored all five goals of the third quarter to pull away.
- Plymouth State mounted a rally in the fourth, as Bosco, Cunningham and Goudreau combined for four straight goals to pull within 16-9 with roughly seven minutes remaining.
- Westfield State halted the comeback with consecutive goals before Cunningham's fourth tally of the day capped the scoring.
By the Numbers:
- Cunningham finished with four goals and six points.
- Goudreau scored three times, while Bosco added two goals and an assist.
- Freshman Grace Hoover (Salem, N.H.) led the team with five draw controls, while classmate Paige Carrow (Mansfield, Mass.) recorded two caused turnovers.
- Plymouth State had a 26-23 advantage in shots on goal and went 13-for-15 on clears.
- The Panthers won the ground ball battle, 19-10, and held a 17-14 advantage in draw controls.
- This was the first meeting between the two programs.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hosts Eastern Connecticut State in the Little East Conference (LEC) opener on Sunday (Mar. 22) at noon.
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