Field Hockey Falls to Plymouth State, 5-2

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The visiting Plymouth State University field hockey team posted a 5-2 victory over Bridgewater State University in a Little East Conference contest on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

Five different players scored for the Panthers who improve to 3-2 on the season and 2-1 in the Little East. The Bears slip to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in conference play with the setback.

Bridgewater opened the scoring in the fifth minute of play as senior forward Hayley Grimes (East Longmeadow, Mass.) redirected a long shot from sophomore forward Julianne Kilduff (Bellingham, Mass.). Grimes deflected the shot over the PSU netminder and into the right side of the net for her first collegiate goal.

Plymouth tied the score at 1-1 in the 17th minute as senior forward Nicole Burgess (Mexico, Maine) scored off a centering pass from senior midfielder Jordan Ray (Standish, Maine). Burgess' shot eluded the BSU netminder and found its way into the left side of the net.

Less than five minutes later, Burgess slipped a pass by the BSU keeper and junior forward Lily Davis (Boscawen, N.H.) easily deposited a shot into the unguarded net to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead. The goals marked the first of the season for Davis.

The Bears tied it up just 12 seconds later as senior forward Brittany Cullinane (Lunenburg, Mass.) converted a penalty stroke. For Cullinane, the goal marked her third of the season and 20th of her career.

The Panthers reclaimed the lead for good in the 27th minute as senior forward Kaitlyn Wilder (Framingham, Mass.) buried a penalty stroke attempt.

Plymouth capped off the first half scoring with just 1:41 remaining in the opening stanza as freshman midfielder Keeley Bartolini (Topsham, Maine) set up senior forward Kendal Lariviere (Dover, N.H.) with a pass from the middle. Lariviere deposited a shot inside the right post to give the visitors a 4-2 advantage.

After a first half which saw the two teams combine for six goals, the only marker in the final stanza came with just two minutes remaining on the clock. Freshman forward Kaihley Rafferty (Salem, Conn.) put the finishing touches on the Panthers' victory with her first collegiate goal. Burgess picked up her second assist of the afternoon on the Raffety scoring strike.

Burgess led all players with three points on a goal and a pair of helpers. Sophomore Dom Tarr (Antrim, N.H.) turned aside eight shots to record her second win of the season.

The Panthers held a 20-18 shot advantage for the game including a 12-6 margin in the second half. The Bears finished with a 7-3 edge in penalty corner attempts.

BSU sophomore goaltender Allison Chappell (Raynham, Mass.) made three saves in the setback, while senior defender Melissa Butler (Watertown, Mass.) notched a defensive save.

The Little East schedule continues for both teams on Tuesday afternoon. The Bears travel to Framingham State University, while the Panthers head to the University of Southern Maine. Both games are slated to get underway at four.