Panther Athletes Honored for Fall Sports

Thirteen Plymouth State athletes had their efforts recognized this week, as players from men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey and volleyball received spots on their Little East All-Conference teams. Women’s soccer had two All-Conference selections, with sophomores Kelsey McBride and Allison Frobey receiving honors. McBride led Panthers’ scoring with ten points, while co-Captain Frobey anchored the defense that allowed just twelve goals through the first eleven games. The Panthers efforts led to a respectable fifth-seed in the LEC tourney, where they fell to fourth-seeded Southern Maine.Four players took All-Conference honors for the men’s soccer team, with seniors Dan Custance, Sebastian Rodriguez, junior Steve Balgach and sophomore Bryan Biederman among the LEC’s finest. Rodriguez led the team with five assists, while Balgach chipped in four while helping the backfield. Biederman played dominant defense all season, and was further helped by Custance, who stopped 78% of shots as the Panthers’ goalkeeper. The Panthers efforts brought men’s soccer their second-straight ECAC berth, where they lost a close match to top-seeded MIT. Field hockey also had four players receive LEC honors, with seniors Caitlin Moran, Amanda Gutoski, Annie Metz and junior Lilly Silva going All-Conference. Silva led the LEC with 22 goals and 48 points, while midfielder Moran topped the conference with twelve assists. Gutoski’s thirteen goals and thirty total points were good for fourth and seventh among all Little East players, and Metz was a force on defense, notching three game-winning goals for the Panthers. Plymouth State’s stellar season is still going, as the Panthers will face Babson in an ECAC semifinal showdown at noon tomorrow. The Panthers volleyball team had three players recognized by the LEC, with juniors Becky Ciulla, Kelly Landry and Amanda Bagwell representing Plymouth State on the All-Conference team. Each took one of the conference’s top statistical categories, with Ciulla leading in hitting percentage (.316), Landry in kills per game (4.04) and Bagwell in assists (10.19). The Panthers’ 28-11 season earned them their first-ever NCAA berth, which they got underway last night against Bridgewater State. The Clock would like to congratulate all the players on their accomplishments this season, and good luck to those still alive in the postseason.