WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Graduate goalie
Ethan Schena (Methuen, Mass.) made 15 saves but Eastern Connecticut State University held off Plymouth State University, 11-7, in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's lacrosse game at Rick McCarthy Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors built a 3-0 lead in the first quarter and would stay in front the rest of the way. Freshman
Seamus Tattan (West Roxbury, Mass.) found the back of the cage as time expired in the second quarter to cut the PSU deficit to 5-4 at the half, but the hosts ripped off three straight goals to start the third quarter.
Plymouth State pulled within 8-6 late in the third quarter, but ECSU used back-to-back goals in the final three minutes of the frame to restore a four-goal cushion and the teams would trade goals in the fourth to account for the final score.
Schena reached double-digit saves for the sixth time in eight games.
Plymouth State slips to 4-4 (0-1 LEC), while Eastern Connecticut improves to 2-3 (1-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 7, Eastern Connecticut 11
- Plymouth State (4-4, 0-1 LEC)
- Eastern Connecticut (2-3, 1-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Eastern Connecticut took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter before freshman Hunter Richards (Durham, Maine) got PSU on the board with 2:39 left on the clock.
- The Warriors answered to make it 4-1 heading to the second quarter.
- ECSU pushed the lead to 5-1 in the opening minute of the second quarter, but the Panthers rallied.
- Senior Brady Hunt (Billerica, Mass.) started the rally before Tattan set up junior Aiden Renner (Phillipsburg, N.J.) to make it 5-3 with just over a minute remaining before halftime.
- Tattan found the back of the cage as time expired to make it a one-goal game at the break.
- The Warriors scored three times in the first five-plus minutes of the third quarter to build some separation.
- Freshman Colby Walden (Londonderry, N.H.) slowed the momentum with his 10th goal of the year, and freshman Nate Cochran (Marshfield, Mass.) cut the deficit to 8-6 with his first career goal.
- The hosts scored twice in the final three minutes of the third quarter to carry a 10-6 advantage into the fourth quarter.
- Cochran scored again early in the fourth, but the Warriors responded with a goal and neither team would score the rest of the way.
By the Numbers:
- Renner finished with a team-high four points on a goal and three assists.
- Walden had a goal and two assists, while Hunt finished with one goal and one assist.
- Cochran recorded his first two career goals.
- Renner snared a team-high five ground balls.
- Eastern Connecticut outshot the Panthers by a 26-16 margin.
- Plymouth State went 15-for-19 on clears, while the Warriors were 17-for-18.
- PSU owned a 30-25 advantage in ground balls.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits UMass Boston for another league game next Saturday (Apr. 4) at 1 p.m.
– 30 –
