WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior goalkeeper
Kole Matta (Castleton, Vt.) made a career-high 11 saves, but Worcester State topped Plymouth State University, 3-0, in a non-conference men's soccer match at John Coughlin Memorial Field on Tuesday night.
The Lancers grabbed an early goal in the fourth minute and had several opportunities to add to their lead, but Matta made seven saves in the opening half alone as the score remained 1-0 into halftime.
Plymouth State applied offensive pressure to start the second half, with the Panthers' best chance coming on a half-volley from sophomore
Cam Bastien (Rochester, N.H.) that nearly tied the game in the 57th minute, but it found the crossbar.
The Lancers responded by doubling the lead just two minutes later, then added a third goal as PSU was forced to throw numbers forward.
Plymouth State falls to 3-4-0, while Worcester State improves to 1-4-1.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, Worcester State 3
- Plymouth State (3-4-0)
- Worcester State (1-4-1)
How it Happened:
- The hosts broke through early, knocking home a cross at the nearside post in the fourth minute.
- Matta made a flurry of saves midway through the first half to keep the deficit at one.
- Sophomore Nick Ferro (Smithfield, R.I.) forced the Worcester State goalkeeper to make a diving stop late in the half, but the score remained 1-0 at halftime.
- The Panthers applied pressure through the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Bastien nearly pulled PSU even in the 57th minute when the Lancers' goalie couldn't control a long throw into the box. The ball deflected to Bastien, but his volley rang the crossbar.
- Moments later, senior Vince Cassarino (Tolland, Conn.) chipped a ball to Ferro in the box, but his left-footed shot was saved.
- Worcester State capitalized on the momentum, doubling the lead in the 59th minute with a strike from 25 yards that found the top right corner.
- The Panthers threw numbers forward, but the Worcester State goalkeeper made several key stops, including a diving save to his right off a blast from junior George Bergin (Brentwood, N.H.) in the 72nd minute.
- The hosts countered, burying an insurance goal in the 76th minute to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Matta finished with a career-high 11 saves.
- Ferro and sophomore Luke McLaughlin (Topsham, Maine) led the Panthers with two shots on goal apiece.
- Worcester State edged the Panthers in corner kicks, 9-3, and held a 21-17 advantage in shots.
- Plymouth State leads the series, 3-2, though this was the first meeting since 2008.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hosts VTSU Castleton in a Little East Conference clash on Saturday (Sept. 26) at 1 p.m.
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