WORCESTER, Mass. - A fifth minute goal from senior Sophia Monopoli (Worcester, Mass.) held up as the game winner as the Worcester State University field hockey team defeated Clark University 1-0 Sunday morning at Granger Field.
With the win, the Lancers pick up their second victory in as many days, staying perfect at 2-0 on the year. Clark suffers its first defeat of the year, falling to 1-1.
Worcester State wasted no time getting on the board early in the opening quarter. After corralling the ball on the right wing, senior Rachel Hopkins (Chelmsford, Mass.) sent a backhanded shot towards the front of the cage. Monopoli deflected the ball out of mid-air and past stunned Cougar goalkeeper Grace Sawyer to give the Lancers a 1-0 lead.
Worcester State held an 8-3 advantage in shots in the first half, and the Lancers went into the locker room holding on to the 1-0 lead.
The Cougars put up a fight looking for the equalizer after the break, but the Lancer defense held strong in preserving its second consecutive shutout. Worcester State only conceded a single penalty corner in the second half and they defended the lead, and only two of Clark's nine shots in the contest landed on cage. Sophomore goalkeeper Jess Hopkins (Chelmsford, Mass.) made good on both shots she faced to earn her second win of the season.
The Lancers will be off until Thursday, when they play their home opener against Wellesley College. The contest is slated for a 7 p.m. start.
#WooFH