PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Rowan McCarthy (Pepperell, Mass.) and freshman
Mohammed Ayari (Lynnfield, Mass.) each scored to lift Plymouth State University past Vermont State University Castleton, 2-0, in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's soccer match at Arold Field on Saturday afternoon.
It was a stalemate for the opening 20 minutes until freshman
Krish Patel (Uxbridge, Mass.) was fouled in the box. McCarthy calmly stepped up and buried the penalty kick to give PSU a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute.
The Spartans finished the first half strong, but the Plymouth State defense was up to the task, and the Panthers came flying out of the halftime break. Just three minutes into the second half, sophomore
Luke McLaughlin (Topsham, Maine) played a ball back to Ayari, who fired a shot over the keeper for his first career goal.
Plymouth State improves to 4-4-0 (1-2-0 LEC), while VTSU Castleton falls to 1-5-2 (0-3-0 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, VTSU Castleton 0
- Plymouth State (4-4-0, 1-2-0 LEC)
- VTSU Castleton (1-5-2, 0-3-0 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The match started slowly as both teams looked to gain possession and strike first. The Spartans got the first real opportunity when a loose ball in the box off a corner kick was fired toward goal. Freshman goalkeeper Bryant Amaral (Coventry, R.I.) was able to reach up and snag the ball to keep the Spartans off the scoreboard.
- The Panthers responded when junior George Bergin (Brentwood, N.H.) made a nice run and slid a ball into the box for Patel, who was taken down to draw a penalty kick. McCarthy stepped up and tucked one inside the post to give the Panthers the lead.
- Plymouth State almost doubled its lead 10 minutes later when Ayari forced a turnover and took a low shot from just outside that box that was stopped.
- The Panthers found themselves on the back foot for the remainder of the half, but the defense stood tall and kept it a one-goal game going into the break.
- Plymouth State came out of halftime ready to go and wasted no time. Freshman Riley Sheel (Elk Township, Maine) sent a ball over the top to McLaughlin, who played it back to Ayari, who fired a strike just under the crossbar for his first career goal.
- Just moments later, Patel took a ball from freshman Cam Bastien (Rochester, N.H.) and worked his way into the box. After making a move to evade a defender, he took a low shot toward the near post that the keeper kept out.
- Things settled down for the next 25 minutes, with the Plymouth State back line continuing to dominate. The Panthers almost got a third when freshman Ian Maeby (Old Lyme, Conn.) sent a cross to the far post, where a sprawling Oliver Linscott (South Portland, Maine) got his foot to the ball, but his chance hit the post.
- The Plymouth State defense held the Spartans at bay from there until the final whistle.
By the Numbers:
- The Panthers put six shots on goal to four for the Spartans.
- Both goalkeepers came up with four saves.
- VTSU Castleton had five corner kicks, while the Panthers had four.
- Ayari scored his first career goal.
- The Panthers improved to 5-4 all-time at home against the Spartans.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State stays at Arold Field when its hosts the University of New England for a non-conference match on Wednesday (Sept. 30) at 3:30 p.m.
– 30 –
