MANSFIELD, Conn. – Eastern Connecticut State University scoring leader Paige Schneider (East Lyme) scored the tying and go-ahead goals 32 seconds apart in the final two minutes to lift the Warriors to a 9-8 Little East Conference victory over Plymouth State University Saturday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

The LEC's second-leading goal-scorer, Schneider was limited to just one goal until the final minutes, when she tied the game with 2:41 left off a Plymouth State (8-5, 2-2 LEC) turnover with two Eastern players off on yellow cards, then potted what proved to be the game-winner 32 seconds later after winning the draw control.

Eastern (9-5, 3-1 LEC) and Plymouth entered the game sharing third place in the conference. The Warriors took over second place from UMass Dartmouth, which dropped a 15-2 decision at unbeaten leader Keene State College.

Eastern led by three goals early but the Panthers bounced back with a three-goal flurry – two of the goals 12 seconds apart by sophomore attack Megan Tingley – to take their first lead, 7-6, with 12 minutes left.

Eastern freshman attack Michelina Pinto (Groton) led all players in the game with four goals, Schneider and Tingley adding three each.

Plymouth junior goalie Meg Brault kept Plymouth in the game with stellar play in net, finishing with 18 saves – 12 in a defensive-dominated first half when Plymouth's offensive was stymied by Eastern's defense. The Warriors led 4-1 at halftime.

Eastern junior Taylor Emmerson (Colchester) made eight saves, none  bigger than the one on a shot by Tingley that preserved Eastern's one-goal lead. After Schneider's go-ahead goal with 2:09 left, the Warriors turned the ball over after winning the draw. Plymouth had two attempts to tie the game, with Emmerson stopping Tingley's with just under a minute left.

Pinto and junior defender Devyne Doran (South Kingstown, RI) each won five draws, with Doran leading the Warriors with four ground balls.

Plymouth junior midfielder Caroline Vonachen  entered play with a team-leading 34 goals for the Panthers but was able to convert only one of her nine shots. Junior defender Megan Lunetta picked up five ground balls for Plymouth.

The Warriors have won seven of eight while Plymouth, last year's LEC regular-season champion, has dropped three in a row.

Eastern visits Rhode Island College Tuesday at 6 p.m. in a conference match.