PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's soccer team was defeated by Little East Conference opponent Plymouth State 2-1 on Saturday.
Plymouth's Faisal Abdallah scored the game-winning goal for the Panthers in the 73rd minute to give Plymouth their first LEC win. Adolphe Alfani netted Castleton's lone goal as the Spartans dropped to 1-4 in the conference.
Castleton and Plymouth battled it out at Arold Field in a tight LEC matchup. The Panthers took control of the first half offensively with eight of their 13 shots coming within the first 45 minutes of play. First-year Xander Berthiaume denied Plymouth's opportunities to keep the game level at the end of the first half.
The Spartans brought the energy to start the second half but it would be Plymouth's Walter Driscoll sniping the top left corner to open the scoring in the 54th minute of play.
Castleton would find an answer in the 61st minute with Alfani finding a deflected shot from Toby Ritzkowski in the Panthers' 18-yard box. Alfani settled the ball, dribbled by the defender, and turned towards the net where he blasted a shot high and past the keeper to tie the game at one once again.
With momentum on their side, Castleton looked for a go-ahead goal but it would be Abdallah for the Panthers turning the tides with a game-winning goal in the 73rd minute to secure the victory for Plymouth.
VTSU Castleton returns to action Sunday, October 13 at Dave Wolk Stadium for a 1 p.m. kickoff against Paul Smith's College.
