CASTLETON, Vt. – Sophomore
Maggie MacDonald (Pembroke, Mass.) scored a brace and Plymouth State University controlled play from start to finish as the Panthers defeated Vermont State University Castleton, 4-1, in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's soccer match at Dave Wolk Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
MacDonald connected twice in a four-minute span as the Panthers jumped ahead 2-0 in the opening 18 minutes of play. Senior
Drea Oswell (Stafford Springs, Conn.) rifled a left-footed turnaround shot late in the opening half to extend the lead to 3-0 at halftime.
Sophomore
Islah Godo (Topsham, Maine) pushed the margin to 4-0 in the 59th minute with a well-struck one-timer just inside the left post. The Spartans spoiled the shutout in the 76th minute.
The Panthers dictated play throughout, holding a 21-5 advantage in shots.
Plymouth State improves to 6-2-0 (1-2-0 LEC), while the Spartans fall to 2-6-0 (0-3-0 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, VTSU Castleton 1
- Plymouth State (6-2-0, 1-2-0 LEC)
- VTSU Castleton (2-6-0, 0-3-0 LEC)
How it Happened:
- MacDonald gave the Panthers the lead in the 14th minute when she intercepted a pass and blasted a shot from 30 yards out over the Castleton goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead.
- PSU doubled its lead just four minutes later. Senior Piper Sullivan (Laconia, N.H.) worked around three defenders on the right side before finding MacDonald at the top of the six, where she one-timed a shot inside the right post to make it 2-0.
- Plymouth State maintained pressure through the remainder of the half. Oswell played a perfect ball through the defense for Godo, but Godo's shot sailed just wide.
- Oswell cashed in just two minutes before the half ended when she received a pass from senior Emily Olsen (Freeport, Maine) and fired a left-footed turnaround shot from 25 yards out over the goalkeeper's head to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead at halftime.
- Plymouth State added a fourth tally in the 59th minute. Sullivan battled through a pair of defenders before playing a ball back to Godo, who one-timed the bouncing ball inside the left post.
- A long shot from the Spartans spoiled the shutout in the 76th minute, but that was the only goal Castleton could muster.
By the Numbers:
- MacDonald recorded her third career brace and has scored three goals in the last three games.
- Godo's tally was her third of the season and fifth of her career, while Oswell has two goals and an assist over her last four games.
- Freshman Liv Desruisseaux (Dracut, Mass.) made three saves to improve to 4-1-0.
- The Panthers owned a 21-5 advantage in shots, including an 11-4 edge in shots on goal.
- PSU earned five corner kicks while not conceding one to the Spartans.
- Plymouth State improves to 8-9-3 in the head-to-head matchup.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hosts Salem State on Tuesday (Sept. 29) at 3:30 p.m.
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