Gorham, ME --- Senior Samantha Janda (Sterling, MA) scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Worcester State University Lancers to a 3-1 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East Conference field hockey game Wednesday afternoon at Hannaford Field.
The win snaps a three-game losing streak for the Lancers and improves their overall record to 8-7 and moves them to 4-5 in the Little East. The Huskies fall to 7-10 overall and 4-5 in the LEC with the loss.
Despite trailing the Huskies in every statistical category the Lancers won the battle on the scoreboard as Janda had a hand in each of the Lancers' goals.
Worcester State took the 1-0 lead early as Janda banged in her 11th goal of the season just 3:49 into the opening half.
The Huskies rallied to knot the score up at one goal a piece in the 12th minute. Junior Kailey Bubier (Auburn, ME) notched her team-leading sixth goal of the season completing a quick one-two passing combination from sophomore Stephanie Lomasney (York, ME) and senior Bethany Bougie (Sanford, ME).
The score remained locked in a 1-1 draw until late in the second half when the Lancers' leading scorer, senior Sarah Cozzens (Lancaster, MA), scored her 13th goal of the season in the 66th minute. Cozzens was on the receiving end of a beautiful lead pass from Janda for the game-winner.
Janda added an insurance goal for the Lancers just two minutes later when she corralled her own rebound in the 68th minute for the 3-1 final.
Southern Maine outshot the Lancers 15-11 and had a significant 14-2 advantage on penalty corners.
Worcester State junior goalkeeper Rebecca Mullen (Peabody, MA) earned the win in goal for the Lancers making 10 saves. Southern Maine sophomore netminder Kayla Kennedy (Windham, ME) stopped four shots in the setback.
Janda passed Cozzens for ninth place on the all-time scoring list as she is now tied with Lancer Hall of Famer Melissa Charland (1992-93). Janda now has 23 goals and 14 assists in her four years at Worcester State. Cozzens herself is now only three markers away from tying the single-season school record of 16, which is held by four former players including Charland.
Both squads will continue LEC play on Saturday afternoon. USM travels to Fitchburg State for a 2 PM matchup while Worcester State entertains Eastern Connecticut at 3 o'clock at home.
Major Portions Of Release Courtesy Of Southern Maine Sports Information