Northampton, MA --- Sophomore Julie O'Rourke (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) potted the game winning marker, 2:35 into overtime to help lead fifth seeded Worcester State to a 2-1 win over #4 Smith in the quarterfinal round of the ECAC Division III New England Field Hockey Tournament.  

With the victory the Lancers (12-8) move on to the semifinals to take on top-seeded Plymouth State in Plymouth, NH at 11 AM on Saturday. The Blue and Gold, who came into the competition winless in all six tournament appearances, earned their first-ever ECAC triumph in program history.

The Pioneers (11-9) wasted no time opening the scoring as freshman Marissa Vara (Hudson, MA) netted her seventh tally of the campaign off an assist by senior Allie Stein (Ann Arbor, MI) with 2:57 off the clock in the first.

Worcester State promptly responded when freshman Katelyn Carmody (Shelburne Falls, MA) scored an unassisted goal on a breakaway just 9:12 into the game. The marker was Carmody's 10th of the campaign.

The contest remained deadlocked through regulation with Smith finishing with the 14-9 margin in shots (7-2 in second half) and the 5-3 lead in corners.

Senior netminder Allison Romano (E. Bridgewater, MA) held off a bid by the Pioneers towards the end of the first frame. She turned aside a trio of shots on net with Smith trying to take advantage of a pair of penalty corners.

O'Rourke streaked down the right side and finished the contest off with her 10th tally of the season – her fifth game-winning goal – off a cross from junior Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA) to give the Lancers the win.

In the other quarterfinal matchup, #3 Bridgewater State edged sixth-seeded Framingham State, 3-1. They will take on #2 University of New England at 2 PM in Plymouth. The two semifinal winners on Saturday vie for the championship at 12 PM in Plymouth on Sunday.

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