PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Morgan Cunningham (Wrentham, Mass.) set a career high with six goals and freshman
Evelyn Goudreau (Topsham, Maine) recorded eight points as Plymouth State University pounded Vermont State University Castleton, 23-7, in Little East Conference (LEC) women's lacrosse action at Panther Field on Wednesday.
Freshman
Karina Bosco (North Dighton, Mass.) scored 29 seconds into the game, and Plymouth State remained in control from start to finish. Cunningham notched a hat trick in the opening 10 minutes to help the Panthers to a 5-0 lead after the first quarter.
PSU put the game away with an offensive outburst in the second quarter, netting 10 goals in the frame to coast to the conference victory.
The contest also served as the team's annual
Morgan's Message game, highlighting the importance of student-athlete mental health.
Plymouth State improves to 5-8 (3-3 LEC), while the Spartans fall to 5-8 (2-3 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 23, Castleton 7
- Plymouth State (5-8, 3-3 LEC)
- Castleton (5-8, 2-3 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Bosco opened the scoring less than 30 seconds into play to set the tone early. Cunningham followed with three straight goals, and junior Sammy Murphy (Harrisville, R.I.) made it 5-0 at the end of the first quarter.
- Freshman Caroline Purcell (Lake Placid, N.Y.) and Cunningham scored early in the second to push the lead to 7-0 before the Spartans got on the board.
- Goudreau sandwiched a pair of goals around another Purcell tally to extend the lead to 10-1 with seven minutes remaining in the half.
- Castleton briefly halted the momentum, but the Panthers responded with a 5-0 spurt to end the half – including Goudreau's four of the game in the final seconds – to make it 15-2 at halftime.
- PSU outscored the Spartans, 4-2, in the third quarter to carry a 19-4 advantage into the fourth.
- The Panthers coasted from there, with freshman Bella Petralia (Derry, N.H.) scoring twice and Murphy capping the win with her 12th goal of the year in the closing seconds.
By the Numbers:
- Cunningham's six goals were a career high. She added an assist, three ground balls and a caused turnover.
- Goudreau finished with a personal-best eight points on four goals and four assists, along with three ground balls.
- Bosco and Murphy scored four goals apiece.
- Petralia and junior Grace Campo (Chelmsford, Mass.) led the defense with two caused turnovers each, while freshman Grace Hoover (Salem, N.H.) corralled a game-high eight draw controls.
- Freshman Caitlin Snow (Peabody, Mass.) made seven saves in the win.
- PSU held a 31-11 advantage in shots on goal and went 13-for-15 in clears.
- The Panthers limited Castleton to 12-for-21 in clears and dominated draw controls, 22-8.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series, 29-1, and has won each of the last 11 meetings.
Up Next:
- The Panthers travel to Keene State for a key conference matchup with the Owls on Saturday (Apr. 18) at 1 p.m.
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