Field Hockey Electrifies the Competition

By Weston Atwood: For The Clock

On September 30, 2015

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Field Hockey Electrifies the Competition

Weston Atwood

For The Clock

The Plymouth State Panther field hockey team has started off strong with a current 3-1 record. Led by Captains Eileen Crutchfield of Boscawan, New Hampshire and Kaitlyn Wilder (Framingham, Massachusetts), the girls have played great field hockey to have a 1-0 advantage in conference play. Nicole Burgess (Mexico, Maine) leads the team in goals with four, while Alivia Bates (Pennsauken, New Jersey) has played exceptional in goal with 32 saves and a .821 save percentage.

Opening their season at the Zenaty Invitational in Springfield, Massachusetts the Panthers took their first game of the season against Brockport State (NY). After going scoreless through the first half, Burgess netted two goals in the 55th and 59th minute. Rosalie Edmonds (Goffstown, NH) would net one last goal in the 65th minute to lead the Panthers to the 3-0 victory. Day two of the invitational saw the Panthers take on the Pride of Springfield College. It was a hard fought contest that saw sophomore Lily Davis (Boscawan, NH) score her first goal of the season. Kendal Lariv- iere (Dover, NH) also would get her first of the season. Unfortunately, it would be the last time Plymouth State saw the net as Springfield would go on to take the contest 6-2, Plymouth’s only loss so far this season.

Game three for the ladies was a strange home opener as the Castleton Spartans came into town on a warm Wednesday evening. The game was well contested throughout Burgess netted a goal in the 12th minute to take a 1-0 lead. Coming back into the second half inclement weather was definitely in the area and flashes of lightning could be seen in the distance. It was with 25:34 left in the game that the teams were called off the field and the game was postponed due to inclement weather. One week later Castleton traveled back to New Hampton and Burgess’ lone goal stood as the Panthers took the contest 1-0.

It was then that the squad opened up conference play on a beautiful Saturday morning in New Hampton. Fitchburg State was in town to face the Panthers and both teams wanted to start out strong in conference play. Burgess would net her fourth goal on the season and first of the match in the 33rd minute. Fitchburg State would come back to tie it, until Lilly Davis poked in the deciding goal in the 62nd minute.

As the record certainly indicates so far the Panthers have a fantastic squad, it’ll be interesting and entertaining to watch them as they continue their slate of conference games and make their run towards the Little East title.