Box Score
PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Eastern Connecticut State University men's lacrosse team came through with wins in its final two Little East Conference matches last week to extend its season by securing yet another berth in the LEC playoffs.

Tuesday night in the first round of the playoffs, sixth-seeded Eastern (6-8) closed out its season with a 19-6 loss to third-seeded and defending champion Plymouth State University at Panther Field. The loss was the second this year at Panther Field for Eastern, Plymouth (11-4) dumping the Warriors, 18-9, April 5 and kicking off a four-game losing streak that the Warriors halted with their wins over the University of Southern Maine (17-3) and VTSU Castleton (11-8) that allowed them to slip into the sixth and final playoff spot.

For Plymouth, senior Crosby Fay posted career highs of nine goals and ten points, including his 200th career goal, as Plymouth shook free from a close first half to outscore the Warriors, 13-4 over the final 30 minutes.

Eastern grabbed an early lead, but Fay's historic goal with five minutes left in the first quarter tied the game. Fay and sophomore Aiden Renner each scored in the final 20 seconds, giving the Panthers a 3-1 lead after one.

With Eastern trailing 3-2, the Panthers reeled off seven straight goals from early in the second quarter through the latter half of the third to take a 10-2 advantage into the final 21 minutes.

The Warriors responded early in the second, but Fay answered 33 seconds later before adding his fourth of the night with ten minutes remaining in the half. Jones tacked on a late goal to create a 6-2 cushion at the break.
 
Plymouth State pulled away in the second half, scoring four straight goals in the third to extend the margin. The Panthers carried an 11-4 advantage into the final stanza and coasted from there, outscoring the Warriors 8-2 in the fourth to secure the win.

Plymouth forced 28 Eastern turnovers and won 20 of 29 faceoffs, with  Renner taking 12 of 17 and Leif Charbonneau 8-of-12.

Sophomore Gregory Hilinski (Shelton) stopped 13 shots while first-year goalie Ryder Casady (Westerly, RI) made a save while playing the final seconds.

Plymouth State University Athletic Communications contributed to this game account.