Box Score MANSFIELD, Conn. – Three-time Little East Conference field hockey champion Plymouth State University erased a two-goal deficit to defeat upset-minded Eastern Connecticut State University, 3-2, Saturday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.
Looking for its first win ever over Plymouth (5-4, 4-1 LEC) in this 18-game series, Eastern (6-5, 3-2 LEC) scored the first two goals before Plymouth roared back. The Panthers, last year's ECAC New England champions, cut the lead in half inside the final minute of the first half, then scored twice in just over three minutes to hand the Warriors their first conference loss in their last three four contests.
At right: Hannah Keiser
Plymouth and Eastern entered action in a four-way tie for third place. Plymouth remains a game back of undefeated co-leaders Keene State College and UMass Dartmouth – all three winning – and sharing third place with Bridgewater State University. Eastern and Salem State both lost and share fifth place.
Eastern sophomore forward Hannah Keiser (Danbury) and freshman forward Elly Walker (Scarborough, ME) teammed up to provide Eastern with its 2-0 lead, with freshmen Paige Schneider (East Lyme) and MaryKate Custer (South Windsor) gaining assists.
Conference scoring leader Nikki Garvey of Plymouth, a junior forward, knocked in her 12th goal of the season with just 38 seconds left in the first half to put the visitors on the board. After senior midfielder Jackie Morin pulled the Panthers even with 12 minutes left with her seventh goal of the year, Garvey set up junior forward Kristen Morris's first goal of the season less than three minutes later to give Plymouth its first lead.
By scoring, Keiser became only the fifth player in program history with at least ten goals, her total leaving her only two shy of the season record. Keiser has scored in three straight matches and in seven of 11 in 2013. The goal was the third of the season for Walker.
Eastern freshman Samantha Scavo (Redding) stopped a career-high 11 shots to match Plymouth senior Hilary Lemelin (Milan, NH) as the teams traded shots and penalty corners. The Panthers managed a slim 19-17 edge in the former category and a 10-7 advantage in the latter.
Eastern visits Massachusetts Dartmouth Wednesdsay at 7 p.m. The Corsairs are the defending LEC playoff champions and winners of three of the last four playoff titles.
