PLYMOUTH, N.H. - The sixth-seeded Western Connecticut State University field hockey team put forth a strong effort but fell short at third-seeded host Plymouth State University in the quarterfinal round of the Little East Conference Championship Tournament on Tuesday afternoon. Junior forward Reagan Schoen (Newtown, Conn.) notched the equalizer and the game appeared to be headed for overtime. However, the Panthers connected on the game-winner with less than a minute remaining in regulation to advance to the LEC semifinals. 

Schoen's 17th marker of the season tied the school record with Morgan Matthews for most goals in a season. Sophomore midfielder Cassidy Nordmann (Bethel, Conn.) added a pair of goals while junior forward Miah Ruiz (New Fairfield, Conn.) struck for another to round the scoring out for the visitors.

Taylor Healey led the hosts with a hat trick including the game-winner while Jess Couture chipped in with a pair scoring strikes. All of the statistical columns were nearly equal throughout. The teams finished tied in shots, 19-19, and saves, 7-7, while Plymouth held an edge in penalty corners, 12-10.

The squads exchanged goals the entire contest. The Panthers broke the ice when Couture netted her second goal of the season 11:17 into the first quarter. Nordmann answered to even the score at 1-1 less than a minute later. The flurry continued when Healey fired home her 12th of the campaign just 1:20 later. 

Ruiz took a feed from Schoen and buried her sixth of the season before Couture belted home her second of the game, giving the hosts a 3-2 advantage at halftime. Nordmann and Healey exchanged tallies before Schoen canned her final goal late in the fourth. However, the Panthers applied late pressure and Healey earned the hat trick when she ripped a shot into the twine with just 58 seconds left to play. 

With the loss, WestConn finished the slate at 7-13 overall, while Plymouth improved to 10-8. The Panthers head to second-seeded Keene State on Thursday. Fifth-seeded Southern Maine blanked fourth-seeded Eastern Connecticut in the other quarterfinal matchup. The Warriors head to top-seeded Vermont State University Castleton next. The LEC Championship will be held on Saturday.