DANBURY, Conn. – Defending Little East Conference (LEC) champion and top-seeded Western Connecticut State University got out to a fast start and never looked back, defeating fourth-seeded Plymouth State University, 18-3, in the semifinals of the LEC Women's Lacrosse Tournament at Westside Athletic Complex on Thursday afternoon.
Plymouth State ends its season at 8-10, while WestConn improves to 14-3 and advances to Saturday's championship game. The Wolves will host the winner of No. 2 Southern Maine and No. 3 Eastern Connecticut State for the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
WestConn built a 7-0 first-quarter lead and held the Panthers scoreless until the final minute of the half, when sophomore
Gracie Menicci (Pepperell, Mass.) broke through to make it a 10-1 game at the break. Plymouth State was unable to rally in the second half.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, WestConn 18
- Plymouth State (8-10)
- WestConn (14-3)
How it Happened:
- WestConn built a 7-0 advantage in the first quarter, then struck three more times in the first five minutes of the second to take a 10-0 lead.
- Plymouth State found its footing over the second half of the second, keeping the Wolves off the scoreboard before Menicci found the back of the cage in the final minute to make it 10-1 at the half.
- The Wolves scored the first three goals of the third quarter before freshman Evelyn Goudreau (Topsham, Maine) and Karina Bosco (North Dighton, Mass.) answered for the Panthers.
- WestConn added a final tally to close the third leading 14-3, then put the game away by scoring all four fourth-quarter goals.
By the Numbers:
- Menicci, Goudreau and Bosco each tallied goals, while freshman Olivia Thibert (Dighton, Mass.) recorded the team's lone assist.
- Menicci added team-highs of five ground balls and three caused turnovers.
- Junior Sammy Murphy (Harrisville, R.I.) chipped in two caused turnovers.
- WestConn held a 15-10 edge in shots.
- Plymouth State went 11-for-12 in clears.
- The Wolves owned a slight 17-15 advantage in ground balls, but won 16-of-23 draw controls.
- WestConn has won the last three meetings, though PSU leads the all-time series, 20-14.
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