WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior forward Karalyn Jones (Wilbraham, Mass.) had a goal and an assist and scored the game winner with just three minutes remaining as Worcester State field hockey defeated Eastern Connecticut State University 2-1 in Little East Conference (LEC) action Saturday afternoon at Coughlin Field.
Jones's 7th goal of the season is her third game-winner, tying her for the team lead. It helped the Lancers improve to 12-5 on the year, 8-3 in the conference, and 6-0 at home.
Madison Ferrara (Somerset, Mass.) made ten saves to earn the victory, improving to 4-2 in net for Worcester State.
The game-winning marker came off a Carly Duff (Warren, Mass.) penalty corner, a stat category that Eastern led 8-4. Emily Saucier (Auburn, Mass.) took a shot off of the corner, which Jones tipped in past ECSU goalie Sarah Gallagher (South Windsor, Conn.), giving Saucier her fourth assist of the year.
Gallagher made six saves in net for the Warriors, who outshot Worcester 18-16.
Worcester took the lead just twenty-nine seconds into the game when Hope Makey (Clinton, Mass.) scored her sixth goal of the season. Jones brought the ball down the right side of the field and sent a cross to Makey, who was standing on the left side of the net. The senior forward tapped the ball into the net to give Worcester an early lead and hand Jones her fourth assist of the year.
Eastern tied the game in the third quarter on an unassisted goal by Isabel Sanchez (Weston, Conn.). A Warrior penalty corner created a scrum in front of Ferrara, who made an initial save on Corey Callahan (South Windsor, Conn.). The ball continued to bounce through the crease, and was eventually put home by Sanchez.
The Lancers continue Little East Conference (LEC) play on October 26th. They will head to Bridgewater State for a 7:00 PM game.
Eastern (9-5, 7-3 LEC) will play at Framingham State at the same time in a non-conference game.