KEENE, N.H. – Plymouth State University rallied from a four-goal deficit, and graduate goalie
Ethan Schena (Methuen, Mass.) made 16 saves, but Keene State College edged the Panthers, 9-8, in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's lacrosse game at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.
The Panthers trailed 5-1 at halftime and 6-2 early in the third quarter before using a 4-0 spurt to tie the game with four minutes left in the third. Keene State closed the frame with back-to-back goals to take an 8-6 lead into the fourth.
PSU pulled within one on two separate occasions and nearly tied it in the final 30 seconds, but the Owls' goalie made a huge save, and time ran out on the Panthers.
Plymouth State moves to 5-6 (1-3 LEC), while the Owls improve to 7-5 (3-2 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 8, Keene State 9
- Plymouth State (5-6, 1-3 LEC)
- Keene State (7-5, 3-2 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The first quarter remained scoreless until the final two minutes. Keene State went ahead with 1:52 left, but junior Kevin Cougler (Dover, N.H.) answered 52 seconds later to tie the game at 1-1.
- The Owls scored four times in the second quarter to build a 5-1 halftime lead.
- Freshman Colby Walden (Londonderry, N.H.) scored just seven seconds into the third quarter, but Keene State responded less than two minutes later for a 6-2 advantage.
- The Panthers rallied with a 4-0 burst to tie the game at 6-6. Freshman Seamus Tattan (West Roxbury, Mass.) opened the spurt, with Cougler, junior Aiden Renner (Phillipsburg, N.J.), and Walden also scoring.
- The Owls answered with two goals in the final minute to make it 8-6 heading into the fourth quarter.
- Walden converted a man-up opportunity in the opening minute to pull PSU within 8-7, but Keene State responded.
- Senior Brady Hunt (Billerica, Mass.) made it a one-goal game with just under a minute to play, and Renner won the ensuing faceoff. The Panthers took a timeout with 43 seconds remaining. Out of the break, Renner found a crease and fired a shot, but the Keene State goalie deflected it wide, and the Owls won possession to secure the win.
By the Numbers:
- Schena notched 16 saves – his eighth double-digit effort of the season.
- Walden posted his third hat trick of the year on just three shots.
- Cougler chipped in two goals and an assist.
- Renner went 9-for-15 on faceoffs with a game-high eight ground balls, one goal, and one assist.
- Freshman Brian Pluck (Clinton, Conn.) had two caused turnovers.
- Keene State held a 25-15 advantage in shots.
- PSU won 13-of-20 faceoffs and scored the lone man-up goal of the game.
- The Owls owned a slight 31-24 edge in ground balls.
- Plymouth State had won three straight against the Owls entering the game.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host Salem State for a Senior Night game on Wednesday (Apr. 15) at 6:30 p.m. The contest will also serve as the team's annual Morgan's Message Game.
– 30 –
