PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) matched a career high with five goals, and sophomore
Claire Joyce (Braintree, Mass.) notched a personal-best six points as the Plymouth State University women's lacrosse team rolled past Rhode Island College, 19-5, in a Little East Conference (LEC) matchup on
Senior Day at Panther Field on Saturday.
Plymouth State scored the game's first four goals and never trailed. After RIC cut the margin to 4-1 late in the first quarter, the Panthers ran off 10 straight goals, spanning late into the third quarter, to put the game out of reach.
Prior to the game, Plymouth State honored Cunningham and classmate
Katie Moore (Salem, N.H.) for their contributions to the program.
Plymouth State improves to 4-7 (2-2 LEC), while the Anchorwomen fall to 1-9 (0-5).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 19, Rhode Island College 5
- Plymouth State (4-7, 2-2 LEC)
- Rhode Island College (1-9, 0-5 LEC)
How it Happened:
- After fending off an early RIC flurry, Cunningham set up freshman Karina Bosco (North Dighton, Mass.) to open the scoring 2:11 into the contest. Freshman Grace Hoover (Salem, N.H.) converted a free-position attempt, and Cunningham scored back-to-back goals to push the lead to 4-0 midway through the first quarter.
- The Anchormen responded with five minutes left in the frame, but PSU closed the first with three straight goals – one apiece from freshman Olivia Thibert (Dighton, Mass.), Cunningham, and Joyce – to make it 7-1 after one.
- The Panthers scored all five goals of the second quarter to push the lead to 12-1 at halftime. Joyce recorded a goal and two assists in the quarter, while Cunningham added a goal and an assist of her own.
- Cunningham and Bosco provided third-quarter tallies to cap the 10-0 run before the Anchorwomen got back on the board with 5:13 left in the frame. PSU responded with three straight goals – including the first collegiate tallies for freshmen Paige Carrow (Mansfield, Mass.) and Addison Tyler (Salem, Mass.) – but RIC answered in the closing seconds to make it 17-3 heading into the fourth quarter.
- The teams traded goals over the final 15 minutes, with freshman Bella Petralia (Derry, N.H.) also recording her first career score, to account for the 19-5 final.
By the Numbers:
- Cunningham matched a career high with five goals and added two assists and two ground balls.
- Joyce posted four goals and two assists, adding four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
- Freshman Evelyn Goudreau (Topsham, Maine) tallied two goals, three assists, four ground balls, and two caused turnovers.
- Bosco recorded a hat trick to go with two ground balls, two caused turnovers, and two draw controls.
- Hoover secured a game-high seven draw controls, while junior Grace Campo (Chelmsford, Mass.) led all players with three caused turnovers.
- Plymouth State held a 30-8 advantage in shots and won the ground ball battle, 32-19.
- PSU went 13-for-16 on clears while limiting the Anchorwomen to 8-for-28.
- The Panthers won 17 draw controls, while RIC won nine.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series 24-1 and has won 18 straight meetings.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host Eastern Connecticut State on Monday (Apr. 13) at 4 p.m.
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