PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) scored four goals and posted five points to spark Plymouth State University to a 15-6 win over the University of New England in non-conference women's lacrosse action at Panther Field on Saturday.
Cunningham, playing her first contest of the year, had three goals and an assist in the first half to help the Panthers build an 8-1 lead in the home opener. The Nor'easters scored twice in the final minute of the second quarter to pull within 9-4 at halftime, but Plymouth State outscored UNE 4-0 in the third quarter to take control.
Freshman
Evelyn Goudreau (Topsham, Maine), junior
Sammy Murphy (Harrisville, R.I.), and sophomore
Claire Joyce (Braintree, Mass.) all registered three goals in the win.
Plymouth State improves to 1-2, while UNE falls to 1-3.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 15, UNE 6
- Plymouth State (1-2)
- UNE (1-3)
How it Happened:
- Goudreau converted a free position goal just seconds after a UNE yellow card to start the scoring two minutes into the game.
- Cunningham and Joyce followed with early goals to give PSU a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
- The Nor'easters cut into the margin late in the frame, but freshman Karina Bosco (North Dighton, Mass.) responded with her first career goal less than a minute later to make it 4-1 after one.
- Murphy converted a feed from Cunningham in the opening minute of the second quarter, and Cunningham followed with back-to-back goals before Joyce's man-up goal pushed the lead to 8-1.
- UNE closed the half with a 3-1 spurt, including two goals in the final minute, to pull within 9-4 at halftime.
- Joyce, Goudreau, Murphy and Bosco all scored in the third quarter as Plymouth State took control, 13-4.
- The teams traded goals in the fourth quarter, with Cunningham and Goudreau scoring for the Panthers, to account for the 15-6 final.
By the Numbers:
- Cunningham's four goals were one shy of her career high.
- Goudreau and Murphy both registered five points with three goals and two assists apiece.
- Joyce also notched a hat trick, while Bosco scored twice.
- Junior Grace Campo (Chelmsford, Mass.) paced the defense with four caused turnovers and five ground balls. Freshman Paige Carrow (Mansfield, Mass.) added four ground balls and three caused turnovers.
- Sophomore Gracie Menicci (Pepperell, Mass.) and freshman Olivia Thibert (Dighton, Mass.) combined for seven draw controls.
- Freshman Caitlin Snow (Peabody, Mass.) made six saves to earn her first collegiate win.
- Plymouth State held a 26-12 advantage in shots on goal and went 19-for-24 on clears. UNE finished 11-for-18 in clears.
- PSU controlled the ground ball battle, 29-13.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series, 8-1, and has won each of the last four meetings.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits Framingham State on Wednesday (Mar. 11) for a 4:30 p.m. matchup with the Rams.
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