PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University men's soccer team scored three goals in a five-minute span to pull away from Vermont State University Johnson, 5-0, in a non-conference matchup at Arold Field on Saturday afternoon.
Despite outshooting the Badgers 24-1, the game remained scoreless into the 67th minute. Plymouth State caught a break when a Johnson defender misplayed a clearing attempt for an own goal, and the Panther attack erupted for four goals over the final 22 minutes – including the first career goals for freshman
Daniel Hancock (Windham, Maine) and junior
Lucho Apitz (Caracas, Venezuela).
Plymouth State improves to 1-1-0, while the Badgers fall to 0-1-1.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 5, VTSU Johnson 0
- Plymouth State (1-1-0)
- VTSU Johnson (0-1-1)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers got off to a strong start as they generated five shots, including three on target, in the first 10 minutes of the match.
- The two best early chances were just seconds apart. The first came when Hancock delivered a ball to freshman Ian Maeby (Old Lyme, Conn.) in the box, who fired a one-time shot that was saved. Seconds later, freshman Michael Mezzetti (Lake Placid, N.Y.) found a deflected ball at his feet and took a shot on target that was also stopped.
- Both teams battled for control in the midfield over the next 25 minutes. The Badgers finally got their first chance off a free kick, but the curling ball was stopped by senior goalkeeper Kole Matta (Castleton, Vt.), who dove to his left to keep the ball out.
- The second half began similarly to the first as the Panthers generated some good scoring chances in the opening ten minutes. Two came from freshman Mohammed Ayari (Lynnfield, Mass.), including an opportunity in which he took a couple of dribbles around a defender before firing a low shot that the keeper was able to get in front of.
- Plymouth State's persistent attack was finally rewarded when freshman Riley Sheel (Elk Township, N.J) sent a ball into the box that was deflected by a Badger defender and into the net.
- The Panthers pounced on the momentum just a minute later Maeby lofted a ball ahead to sophomore Nick Ferro (Smithfield, R.I), who saw the keeper come off his line and chipped the ball in for his first of the year.
- Four minutes later, junior George Bergin (Brentwood, N.H.) headed home the Panthers' third goal off a corner kick delivered by freshman Krish Patel (Uxbridge, Mass).
- The Panthers didn't stop there. A few minutes after reentering the match, Hancock scored his first career goal when his left-footed shot beat the keeper.
- Plymouth State struck once more when Apitz chested down a cross from sophomore Luke McLaughlin (Topsham, Maine), then drilled a low shot that hit the back of the net.
By the Numbers:
- The Panthers outshot the Badgers 33-2.
- Plymouth State improves to 10-1 all-time against VTSU Johnson.
- The Panthers put 17 shots on goal to the Badgers' one.
- Plymouth State generated 11 corner kicks to VTSU Johnson's two.
- The Panthers are a perfect 5-0 against the Badgers at Arold Field.
- The 33 shots were the most PSU has taken in a match since firing 42 in an 8-0 win against VTSU Lyndon on Oct. 25, 2023.
Up Next:
- The Panthers return to action at Colby-Sawyer on Wednesday (Sept. 9) at 4:45 p.m.
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