WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University field hockey team tallied three second half goals to defeat Western Connecticut State University 3-2 in Tuesday evening's Little East Conference Quarterfinal at Coughlin Field.
With the win, the Lancers advance to the Little East Conference semifinal, set for Friday evening against Castleton University. Western Connecticut State's season ends with an overall record of 11-8.
The Colonials came out fast in the contest to take the early 1-0 lead in the seventh minute. Junior Melissa Krim (South Easton, Mass.) found the back of the net off a feed from Olivia Moore (New Preston, Conn.) off a penalty corner, putting the Colonials ahead.
Sophomore Amanda Spano (Mahopac, N.Y.) scored what appeared to be a dagger with under two minutes left until the halftime whistle. After Morgan Matthews (Bethel, Conn.) was denied from in close by freshman goalie Jess Hopkins (Chelmsford, Mass.), Krim poked a pass over to Spano, who fired it into the open cage, putting Western Connecticut ahead 2-0 going into the break.
The Lancers wasted no time getting on the board in the second half, as senior Michaila Parent (Westborough, Mass.) tallied her team-leading 18th goal of the season just 2:12 into the half. Off a scramble in front of the net, junior Katelyn Santos (Acushnet, Mass.) poked the ball over to Parent, who deposited the ball home to cut the deficit in half.
Six and a half minutes later, in the game's 45th minute, junior Sophia Monopoli (Worcester, Mass.) put home the equalizer for the Lancers. Monopoli took a feed forward from Parent, spun around the Colonial goalkeeper, and swept home her fifth goal of the season on the backhand to tie the score.
The Lancers put the game away in the 64th minute when Olivia Antonelli (Westford, Mass.) netted her 17th goal of the season off a pass from Parent.
Worcester State's Hopkins saved seven shots tonight advancing her record to 14-6. The Colonials' netkeeper, Neve Manion (Newington, Conn.) recorded eight saves but took the loss ending her season with a record of 11-8.
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