PLYMOUTH, N.H. -- The Plymouth State University women's lacrosse team edged visiting Bridgewater State University, 11-9, in a non-conference tilt on Tuesday afternoon at snowy Arold Field.
The host Panthers improve to 7-3 on the season with their fourth consecutive win, while the visiting Bears fall to 7-5 with their third straight setback.
Sophomore midfielder Sydney Dubois (Goffstown, N.H.) tallied three goals and an assist, while sophomore attack Sam Fiore (Merrimac, Mass.) potted three markers to lead the way for Plymouth State.
Freshman attack Emily Hiller (Marion, Mass.) netted a game-high four goals to pace the Bridgewater State offense. BSU sophomore attack Victoria McDonough (Marshfield, Mass.) checked in with two goals and an assist, while junior midfielder Elizabeth Ettridge (Marshfield, Mass.) also found the back of the net twice for the Bears.
Plymouth trailed 8-6 with 20 minutes remaining on the second half, but then reeled off five straight goals in a span of 9 1/2 minutes to take control of the game. Dubois scored twice during the run, including the ultimate game-winning tally.
Four of PSU's 11 goals came on the player-advantage including three during the decisive 5-0 second half run.
Plymouth jumped out to a 5-0 lead a little over ten minutes into the game. The Bears came roaring back with five straight markers over the next 15 minutes.
Ettridge started the comeback with the first of her two goals, and Hiller scored twice in a 90 second span, including one from a free position, to pull the Bears to within 5-3 with 8:55 remaining in the opening stanza. Freshman attack Lacey Dinning (Oak Bluffs, Mass.) found the back of the net just 22 seconds later to cut the deficit to a single goal. McDonough completed the comeback when she ripped a shot into the cage for her 30th goal of the season with 5:04 remaining in the half.
Fiore gave the Panthers a 6-5 lead at the intermission when she tallied her second of the game with 3:49 to play.
Bridgewater came out aggressive to start the second half as a steady snow began to fall. Hiller completed the hat trick with a goal in the opening minute to even the score at six-apiece and McDonough put the visitors up with her second of the game seven minutes later. Hiller tallied her fourth goal minutes later as the Bears took an 8-6 lead with 20:08 showing on the scoreboard.
Just 12 seconds later after winning the draw, the Bears nearly took a three-goal lead when senior attack Gabby Reinold (Braintree, Mass.) rang one off the post. Bridgewater, however, managed just two shots, both off frame, over the next 16 minutes as Plymouth pushed ahead.
The Panthers held a 36-28 shot advantage for the game, while the Bears finished with a 14-8 edge in draw controls. Plymouth went 3-for-9 on free position attempts, while Bridgewater converted 1 of 3.
McDonough led all players with seven draw controls. Ettridge also added four draws for the Bears. Senior attack Megan Tingley (Natick, Mass.) recorded five of Plymouth's eight draw controls.
Senior goalkeeper Clarissa Foote (Weare, N.H.) made 12 saves to record her sixth win of the season for the Panthers. BSU sophomore netminder Hayley Barner (Westwood, Mass.) turned aside 12 shots in the setback. She also picked up five ground balls. Barner has notched 44 saves over the Bears' last three games.
BSU junior defender Lisa Moynihan (Norwood, Mass.) forced three turnovers and registered four ground balls to go along with a draw control.
In upcoming action, the Bears entertain MASCAC rival Worcester State University on Saturday at noon. The Panthers host Salem State University in a non-conference matchup on Thursday afternoon at four.