GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine men's lacrosse team came up just short Wednesday, falling to visiting Plymouth State University, 11-10, in a Little East Conference game at Hannaford Field.
Down 11-7 with 13 minutes remaining, the Huskies rallied for three straight goals to close the gap to 11-10 with 7:12 to play. The Huskies hung tough, killing off a 6-on-4 PSU man-up situation, and had two 30-second man-up opportunities of their own, but could not find an equalizing goal.
USM fell behind 4-1 in the first quarter before rallying to take a 5-4 advantage in the second quarter on a goal from sophomore
Tanner Hebert (Pittston, Maine/Gardiner Area). PSU scored twice in the final six minutes to take a 6-5 lead into the shortened halftime break.
The Panthers outscored the Huskies 4-2 in the third to increase their lead to 10-7 after 45 minutes. A goal from junior
Riley Roy (Laconia, N.H.) early in the fourth gave the visitors what proved to be the game-winning goal.
Junior
Colin Kinney (Belgrade, Maine/Messalonskee) scored 32 seconds after Roy to begin the Huskies' comeback bid. Hebert netted his fourth marker of the day at 12:20 to get the home side back within two. Five minutes later, junior
Nick James (Portland, Maine/Deering) scored on an underhanded shot off an assist from Kinney to make it 11-10, but that would prove to be the last score of the game.
Roy led the PSU offense with four goals and a pair of assists. Rookie
Nolan Burke (Dudley, Mass./Shepherd Hill Regional) contributed two goals and three assists, sophomore
Mike Fleury (Lebanon, N.H./New Hampton School) had two goals and one helper, and junior
Mike Donnelly (New Hampton, N.H./New Hampton School) scored two goals.
Senior goalie
Robert Porter (Groveland, Mass./Pentucket Regional) made seven saves while allowing nine goals over 55:03. Rookie
Owen McNichols (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Central) came on for a 4:57 stint late in the third quarter to make three saves and surrender one goal.
Kinney paced the Huskies attack with a six-point day on two goals and four assists. Hebert finished with four goals, and James and rookie
Andrew Lawrence (North Yarmouth, Maine/Greely) each finished with two goals. USM rookie goalie
Nathan Plourde (Otisfield, Maine/Oxford Hills) stopped 10 shots.
Plymouth State racked up a 41-29 edge in shots.
Southern Maine is scheduled to travel to Eastern Connecticut State University on Saturday for its next game. Plymouth State is slated to host in-state rival Keene State College on Saturday.
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