Nail-Bitter Turns Up Big For PSU

Plymouth, N.H. – The Plymouth State Panthers defeated the Southern Maine Huskies 1-0 in an important Little East Conference game this past Saturday 16 at Panther Field; bringing PSU to 7-5-1 overall, 3-2-0 in the LEC.The match was scoreless into the seventy-fourth minute when Takeru Tanikawa found his way through the Husky defense, and scored the goal that avoided what would have been the seventh overtime of the Panther season.The first half was scoreless and was a back and forth game, both teams working each other trying to find a hole or a break down. Late into the first half, a corner kick by senior Sebastian Rodriguez found senior Nick Libera in position for a header, which would have broken the ice, but Libera’s header was denied by Southern Maine’s defense. First blood was not shed as the first half closed and the score remained 0-0.The Plymouth Panthers were looking to make a convincing offensive stand at the beginning of the second half and out shooting Southern Maine 8-2 in the later 45. With only sixteen minutes remaining in the second half, sophomore Felix Rosen fed the ball to Takeru Tanikawa who managed his first goal of the season that would win a very pertinent game for the Huskies.The Panthers looked strong improving a good record in the LEC, their next game coming up this Wednesday against Green Mountain College at 6:00 p.m. The game leaves Southern Maine at 7-3-3, 1-2-1 in the conference, and has a road game at the University of New England. Closing out the season for Plymouth State is Western Connecticut (3-8-3 overall, 0-3-1conference) on 10-24 and then on to Rhode Island College (7-6-2 overall, 3-1-1 conference) on 10-30, both games are away.