The Plymouth State Women’s lacrosse team was able to improve their overall record to 7-3 upon defeating Bridgewater State University on Wednesday (April 8th) night. The 14-13 victory allowed the Panthers to increase their winning streak to three games in a row.
Prior to the game against Bridgewater, PSU defeated both Colby-Sawyer College and UMass Dartmouth with relative ease, winning by an aggregate score of 36-9 between the two games. The Panthers were able to get comfortable leads between both games, and never truly had to worry about either team making much of a comeback.
Between those two games, two Panthers were recognized for their stellar play. Molly Gleason (Haverhill, MA) and Casey Curran (Framingham, MA) were named Little East Conference Defender of the Week (for Gleason) and Little East Conference Goalie of the Week (for Curran). For Gleason, she was able to collect 15 draw controls between the two games, which really allowed the Panthers to sustain possession for the majority of the games. Curran was able to accumulate 18 saves between the two games.
For Curran, this was the first time that she received the award, as she finally got her opportunity in net this season. While appreciative of the award, she was quick to give credit to others. “I’m only as good as the defenders in front of me; it’s something we earned together to keep them at four goals in each game,” Curran stated.
Against Bridgewater, the defense in front of Curran was able to step up huge against a team that scored 21 goals in their previous game. Aside from Gleason, sophomores Meg Lunetta (Plymouth, MA) and Becky Dale (Keene, NH) and freshman Sophia Guerriero (Essex, MA) all had tremendous games against the Bears, limiting the number of shots BSU could muster in the first half. The stifling defense limited Bridgewater to only five goals in the first half.
On the offensive side of the field, a number of players stepped up big. Shannon Connerty (Nashua, NH) was involved in the first three goals (two goals and an assist) to put the Panthers up 3-0 in the first 12:44 of the contest. Bridgewater was able to score three of the next four goals to cut the lead to 4-3, but goals by Kaitlyn Widler (Framingham, MA) and Amy MacDonald (Hull, MA) put the game back to a three goal deficit for BSU. The Bears wouldn’t go away, though, scoring the next two goals to cut the lead to 6-5.
As Bridgewater showed that they wouldn’t go down without a fight, the offense of Plymouth was able to start firing on all cylinders for the last three minutes of the half. Goals by Gleason, MacDonald and Caroline Vonachen (Framingham, MA) put the lead for the Panthers at 9-5 heading into overtime.
“The first half was the best lacrosse we have played all season,” Head Coach Kristin Tracy stated after the game. That momentum continued early in the second half, as Dale, Lunetta and Guerriero were able to shutdown BSU for the first 9:11 of the period, while the offense was continuing to find the back of the net. Wilder, MacDonald, Vonachen and Megan Tingley (Natick, MA) all scored to put the Panthers up 13-5.
It appeared that Plymouth was on their way for an easy win, but BSU had a different mindset. Bridgewater was able to score four goals over about a nine minute span to cut the deficit to four, but Vonachen found the back of the net for what would ultimately end up being the game-winning goal. Bridgewater was able to put in three more goals, but Becky Dale was able to get a crucial ground ball with about two minutes left in the game, and allowed the offense of the Panthers to run out the time on the clock.
Shannon Connerty looked exceptionally well in the game, as she was able to score two goals to compliment two assists. Aside from the offensive threat she posted, her “transition defense was awesome, and she was really aggressive,” Coach Tracy added. Connerty was able to cause two turnovers, and snagged four ground balls.
As that game came to an end, the next contest for PSU doesn’t look to be an easy game, as Eastern Connecticut State University will travel to New Hampton, New Hampshire to take on the Panthers. This game is typically one of the most competitive ones within the Little East Conference, and had the potential to really alter the standings within conference. Plymouth goes into the game with their only conference game being the win over UMass Dartmouth, while ECSU is 1-1, with a 21-10 win over Rhode Island College, and a 9-8 loss to Keene State College.“We are going to have to play an entire 60 minutes, and Eastern has gotten much better as the season has progressed” Coach Tracy added.
The only remaining games on the schedule for the Panthers are ones that are within conference play. With only five games remaining in the regular season, PSU needs to ride this three game winning streak. “We hit a big turning point in the road last week, and we want to peak at the right time,” Tracy added. While the first half against Bridgewater was arguably the best of the season, Plymouth will need to play a full 60 minutes to ensure that they will capture five more wins in the regular season.
The Panthers “host” their second “home” game of the season on Saturday (April 11th) night at 6:30 PM. Take a ride down to New Hampton field on Saturday night to watch the Panthers go for their eight win of the season.