WORCESTER, MASS. – The Worcester State Lancers hosted the Huskies of Southern Maine for a Little East Conference field hockey match-up on Wednesday night at Coughlin field.

Action opened quickly when junior midfielder Carly Duff (Warren, MA) fired a shot past the Huskies junior goalkeeper, Julianna Kiklis (York, ME) to put the Lancers up by one early in the first quarter. The score remained tied through the remainder of the first quarter despite both squads exchanging chances.

The Huskies answered back just minutes into the second quarter. First-year midfielder Hanni Johnson (Livermore, ME) scored her first collegiate goal to tie the game at one, unassisted. Just over five minutes later, Brooke Carson (Bryant Pond, ME) crossed a pass to first-year Sage Drinkwater (Steep Falls, ME). Drinkwater sent the ball flying past the Lancers keeper, Sam Gastonguay (Ashburnham, MA) to tally her seventh of the season and put the Huskies up by one before the half. The Huskies dominated the offensive possession time throughout the remainder of the first half.

The Lancers responded to the pressure when seconds into the first half senior defender Ann Maher (Mansfield, MA) rocketed a shot from just outside the circle. Maher's ball found the stick of first-year forward Madison Avilla (Westport, MA) who skillfully redirected it behind Kiklis for the game-tying goal.  Worcester had a strong scoring push during the 7^th minute of play coming off a string of corners, but Kiklis held strong in the net for the Huskies, leaving the game tied headed into the 4^th quarter.

The deadlock was broken in the 57^th minute of play when Worcester's Duff would strike again. Receiving the ball off a penalty corner, Madison Avilla sent the ball towards the front of the Huskie's net. Duff collected the ball off of the scrum and chipped it past Kiklis for the eventual game-winner. The Huskie's had an opportunity to tie the game in the final minute of play with a penalty corner by Hannah Banks (Belfast, ME), but the Lancers defense held strong. Worcester was able to clear the ball and drain the final seconds off the clock for the victory.

Gastongauy had seven saves on the night, while Kiklis had six.

The Lancers improve to 8-3 (3-2 LEC) with the win, well the Huskies fall to 6-6 (4-2 LEC) with the loss.

Worcester State returns to action at Western Connecticut on Saturday, October 9^th. The Huskies will host Castleton University on the same day.