WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Freshman forward Griffin Luczek (Lee, NH) scored his third goal of the season with 14 seconds left in the second overtime to lift the Eastern Connecticut State  men's soccer team to a 3-2 Little East Conference victory over Plymouth State University Saturday afternoon at Thomas Nevers Field.

It appeared that last year's LEC regular-season co-champions would play to an overtime tie for the third straight year before Luczek converted his fifth shot of the game from just inside the box, beating  Plymouth State senior keeper Felix Lindeberg  with a shot inside the left post on a ball crossed from the right by freshman midfielder Jackson Toomey (Willington) off a throw-in from freshman back Sam Hurlburt (Cornwall)

Eastern (3-4-1, 2-0-0 LEC) led 2-0 on early second-half goals by junior midfielder JD Stearns (Bolton) and freshman midfielder Dimi Dalardha (Hampton) before Plymouth (2-4-1, 0-2-0 LEC) got one back 14 minutes into the second half and forced overtime with 13 minutes left in regulation on a pair of goals from top scorer Nick Rutherford.

Now 3-1-1 at home, Eastern ran its unbeaten streak against Plymouth to 11 (9-0-2) since losing 1-0 at home ten years ago. It was the first time this year that the Warriors had managed more than two goals.

A hustling play by freshman back Nick Starkowski (Marlborough) knocked the ball off a Plymouth defender and over the end line inside the final minute of overtime to return possession to Eastern. After a goal kick by sophomore keeper Ryan Murphy (Cromwell) got the ball into Eastern's attacking third, the Warriors were awarded a throw-in inside midfield. Hurlburt sent a one-bouncer to Toomey. With his back to the goal, Toomey chested the ball down, whirled to his right, and volleyed a pass to an unmarked Luczek. With Lindeberg coming out too late to cut off the angle, Luczek unleashed a 12-yarder in stride inside the far left post to end the game.

Eastern dominated the second half with 16 shots and did not allow a corner kick but the Panthers, who have lost their last three,  connected on two of their three shots. Rutherford, the only multiple-goal scorer on the team, tied the match with his fifth goal of the season, picking up a loose ball inside 18 yards and beating Murphy.

The Warriors nearly settled the decision 1:30 into overtime, when junior forward Alexander Fazzino's (Bolton) had the ball on his foot at the left post, but he ground his hurried attempt inches wide. Less than two minutes into the second ten-minute OT session, Rutherford set up  overtime reserve player Juan Rivera for a bid at the left post, but his left-footed drive was also grounded wide.

Stearns gave Eastern the 1-0 lead with his first goal of the season four minutes into overtime when he knocked in the rebound of Toomey's attempt from close range, and Dalardha's first goal of the year eight minutes later set up by Luczek's corner kick and freshman  Max Parent (Yarmouth, MA) made it 2-0.

Toomey, Parent and Dalardha all recorded their first collegiate points in the match. Toomey also assisted on Stearns' goal.

Eastern  junior midfielder Xavier Doran (Hebron) had a handful of header attempts off of corner kicks from Luczek sail over the crossbar or wide of the post throughout the game.

Lindeberg survived a hard fall midway through the first half caused when he came off his line to grab a crossing pass in traffic to make nine saves, while Murphy finished with four. Lindeberg was shaken up on the play when the ball was dislodged on impact, but he remained in the game.

Eastern outshot the Panthers, 27-13 and the defense gave up only three corner kicks.

Eastern visits Salem State University Tuesday at 7 p.m.