DANBURY, Conn. – Top-seeded Western Connecticut State University scored the game's first 12 goals to defeat fifth-seeded Plymouth State University, 20-3, in the semifinals of the Little East Conference (LEC) Men's Lacrosse Tournament at Westside Athletic Complex on Thursday night.
Plymouth State ends its season at 8-9, while WestConn improves to 15-3 and advances to Saturday's (May 2) championship game. The Wolves will host the winner of No. 2 Mass Maritime and No. 3 UMass Boston.
WestConn jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first five minutes and held the Panthers scoreless until late in the second quarter, when senior
Brady Hunt (Billerica, Mass.) broke through, though PSU trailed at halftime, 13-1.
The Panthers were unable to build momentum as WestConn continued to extend the gap in the second half.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, WestConn 20
- Plymouth State (8-9)
- WestConn (15-3)
How it Happened:
- WestConn took a 6-0 lead through the first quarter.
- The Wolves extended the margin to 12-0 before Hunt converted for the Panthers, but WestConn would respond to take a 13-1 lead into halftime.
- After a four-goal spurt, junior Aiden Renner (Phillipsburg, N.J.) deposited his 26th goal of the season late in the third quarter, and sophomore Blake McPherson (Windham, Maine) added the first goal of the fourth to make it 17-3.
- WestConn added three more goals late in the fourth to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Renner won 7 of 11 faceoffs and matched sophomore Spencer Kennedy (East Lyme, Conn.) with a team-high five ground balls. Kennedy chipped in a caused turnover.
- McPherson chipped in three ground balls and a caused turnover.
- Hunt finished the year with 21 goals, easily surpassing his total from last spring.
- Graduate goalie Ethan Schena (Methuen, Mass.) made eight saves.
- Plymouth State won the ground ball battle, 31-27, and went 21-for-23 on clears.
- WestConn held a 30-10 advantage in shots.
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