Plymouth, NH --- Plymouth State freshman Kaitlyn Wilder (Framingham, MA) and senior Lauren Carroll (Rollinsford, NH) combined for three goals and a trio of assists Saturday as the top-seeded Panthers rolled past #5 Worcester State University, 7-1, in the first semifinal game of the ECAC Division III New England Field Hockey Tournament at Arold Field.
Wilder scored two goals and assisted on another while Carroll scored once and dished out two goals.
With the win Plymouth State (14-6) advances to Sunday's championship game at 12 PM against either second-seeded University of New England (16-6) or #3 Bridgewater State University (17-5). Worcester State finishes its season at 12-9 for their first winning season since 2011.
PSU wasted little time getting on the scoreboard against the Lancers, converting a penalty corner in the first two minutes of the game. Carroll fed the corner to freshman Masha Lange (Danville, NH), who fired a slap shot from the top of the circle to give PSU an early 1-0 lead.
Wilder scored the next two goals for PSU. She picked up a loose ball in the slot and knocked it past the goalie in the tenth minute, and converted a pass from junior Sam Carberry (Shrewsbury, PA) near the left post in the 21st minute to extend the margin to 3-0.
Junior Kristen Morris (Stoughton, MA) closed out the first-half scoring less than two minutes later when she deflected a shot by Carroll out of mid-air and just inside the left post after Carroll had weaved her way through the Lancer defense for the four-goal advantage.
Worcester State did give up and applied pressure on the Panther half of the field in the last 10 minutes of the first half. The Lancers took a couple of good shots but PSU goalie Hilary Lemelin (Milan, NH) made the saves.
The Blue and Gold again showed some spark early in the second half, but PSU prevented any comeback attempt with two goals in the first 10 minutes of action.
Junior Emily Davis (Boscawen, NH) redirected in a pass from senior Jackie Morin (Scarborough, ME) six minutes into the second half, and Carroll followed three minutes later with an assist from Wilder for the 6-0 score.
Freshman Meghan Pini (Natick, MA) finally broke through for the Lancers as she knocked one past Lemelin for her fifth goal of the season in the 48th minute, with an assist from classmate Katelyn Carmody (Shelburne Falls, MA) for the 6-1 score.
PSU was able to get a late goal by freshman Allison Lemay (Westbrook, ME) to round out the scoring.
Lemelin turned aside four shots for Plymouth State to earn the win, while WSU senior Allison Romano (East Bridgewater, MA) made 14 saves in the setback.
Major Portions of the release courtesy of Plymouth State Sports Information
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