WORCESTER, Mass. – Visiting Eastern Connecticut State University scored twice in the first quarter and held Worcester State off the scoresheet as the third-seeded Warriors handed #2 seed Worcester a 2-0 defeat in the Little East Conference (LEC) field hockey semifinals on Thursday afternoon at Coughlin Memorial Field.

For the Lancers, it marks the end of a season that saw them go 15-6 overall, including 9-3 in the conference. Thursday's loss in the semifinals was the first defeat at home for the Lancers, who went 8-1 at Coughlin Field.

Isabel Sanchez (Weston, Mass.) scored just forty-eight seconds into the action when she stole the ball deep in the Lancer end and tucked it past first year goalkeeper Madison Ferrara (Somerset, Mass.). It was the ninth goal of the year for the sophomore.

The Warriors doubled their advantage when Liz LaMarco (West Hartford, Conn.) flicked a backhand into the back of the cage for her sixth goal of the year. The pass came from Bryce Makula (Guilford, Conn.), giving the senior midfielder her sixth assist of the season.

Sarah Gallagher (South Windsor, Conn.) made a leaping blocker save on a shot by Hope Makey (Clinton, Mass.) in the final seconds of the first quarter to keep the Warriors with a 2-0 lead. Gallagher made six stops on the day to earn the shutout, including several in the fourth quarter when Worcester State had a 9-1 edge in shots as they fought to stay alive.

Makey had a chance to cut the deficit in half midway through the fourth quarter, but her shot from just in front of the crease trickled wide of the cage.

Ann Maher (Mansfield, Mass.) also had a pair of shots in a frantic fourth quarter, but both were turned aside by Gallagher.

Ferrara made five saves in net for the Lancers, who had a 13-5 advantage in penalty corners and outshot the Warriors 15-10.

Eastern Connecticut will either travel to Keene State or host Southern Maine in Saturday's conference championship game. The Owls and Huskies play their semifinal Thursday evening in Keene.