WORCESTER, Mass. – The first seeded Worcester State University Lancers field hockey team defeated the eighth seeded Western Connecticut State University by a score of 5-2 in a Saturday evening Little East Conference (LEC) quarterfinal matchup on the campus of Worcester State.

THE BASICS

October 28, 2017

Coughlin Field

Score: Worcester State 5, Western Connecticut 2

Records: Worcester State (15-3) | Western Connecticut (6-13)

1^ST HALF

Worcester State University's leading scorer, Michaila Parent (Westborough, Mass.) tallied her 19^th goal of the season 10:24 into the first frame on a pass from senior Jolane Thibault (Douglas, Mass.). The Lancers doubled their lead in the 22^nd minute as Thibault scored on a pass from Katelyn Santos (Acushnet, Mass.). Parent had crossed the ball, and Santos redirected the ball to Thibault who notched her 11^th goal of the season.

2^ND HALF

The Lancers' Rachel Hopkins (Chelmsford, Mass.) put the Blue and Gold ahead 3-0 six minutes into the second half as she recorded her shot off a goalie deflection. Olivia Antonelli (Westford, Mass.) tallied the fourth goal on an assist from Hopkins, and Parent put the Lancers' fifth and final goal in the net on a slap shot following a breakaway down the right side of the field. Western Connecticut didn't give up and spoiled the Lancers' shutout as Morgan Matthews (Bethel, Conn.) and Carly Matasavage (Middlebury, Conn.) tallied two goals late in the second stanza to position the score at 5-2.

COUNT ME IN

• Parent tallied two goals in the win to total 20 on the season.
• Matthews and Matasavage each registered their 9^th goals of the season in the setback.
• Worcester State's senior goalie, Kathryn Salemme (Boxborough, Mass.) earned the win in net as she stopped seven shots in the 70 minutes played.
• Western Connecticut's starting goalie, Neve Manion (Newington, Conn.), was tabbed the loss in an 8-save performance. The Colonials also saw minutes from Samantha Ripegno (Stamford, Conn.) and Elizabeth Fagan (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) in goal.
• The Colonials' Greta McConnell (Norwalk, Conn.) racked up four defensive saves in the loss.
• Worcester State outshot Western Connecticut 26-12 – 16-4 in the first half alone.
• The Lancers held a 3-2 edge in penalty corners.

UP NEXT

No. 1 Worcester State University advances to the semifinal round and will host No. 4 Westfield State in a 7 p.m. game on Wednesday (Nov. 1) in Worcester. Western Connecticut wraps up the 2017 campaign with an overall record of 6-13.

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