Western Connecticut 19, Worcester State 18 OT
Danbury, CT --- Western Connecticut senior Ashley Caruso (Northport, NY) picked the perfect time to score her 40th goal of the season for the Colonials. With the score tied in overtime, Caruso scored an unassisted goal with 29 seconds remaining to lift West Conn to a 19-18 overtime victory over Worcester State College at the Westside Athletic Complex.
Leading the attack for WestConn were junior Kara Kruczkiewicz (Brookfield, CT) with five goals, freshman Jessica Bouwman (New Milford, CT) with four goals, and senior Whitney Fairchild (New Milford, CT) and Caruso who each scored three goals. Kara Kruczkiewicz also led the Colonials with two assists.
For Worcester State, Shannon Feeley (West Springfield, MA) led the attack with four goals, while Brittany Jamieson (Foxboro, MA), Colleen Manning (Plainville, MA), and Kim Vail (West Newbury, MA) each scored three times in a losing effort for the Lancers. Jamieson led Worcester State with three assists.
WestConn took a quick advantage in the game's opening minutes on goals by Kruczkiewicz and Fairchild, but Worcester State answered with back to back goals to even the score. Neither team led by more than a goal for the remainder of the first half, until overtime hero Ashley Caruso scored with a minute remaining in the half to give WestConn an 8-6 lead at intermission.
In the second half, WestConn began to open a slight margin, extending the lead to 13-9 midway through the half. Worcester State then scored three goals in under two minutes to draw within one, 13-12, with nine minutes remaining. For the next six minutes neither team scored, but when Whitney Fairchild scored with under three minutes to play, WestConn once again held a two-goal lead. With one minute to play, Amanda Cosenza (Shrewsbury, MA) took a pass from Feeley and beat WestConn's goalie to again make the margin one, 14-13. Manning then scored for Worcester State with 16 seconds remaining to force overtime.
In OT, the Colonials again jumped out to an early lead, and again extended that lead to two goals, 17-15. Vail scored for the Lancers with 19 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, but 15 seconds later sophomore Kaitlyn Mo (Hampstead, NC) scored to put WestConn back up by two with three minutes to play.
In the second overtime period, Worcester State scored two free-position goals to tie the score at 18-18, setting the stage for Caruso's game-winning heroics. In the closing seconds, Worcester State had several chances at yet another comeback, but with five seconds remaining the Colonial defense finally regained possession of the ball to preserve a hard-fought 19-18 victory.
Freshman Mercedes Koehler (Bethel, CT) made 10 saves in goal for the Colonials and earns the win, while Haley Erickson (Saugus, MA) made 12 saves (10 in the second half of regulation) and suffers the loss.
WestConn's season record now stands at 7-8, while Worcester State falls to 6-5 on the season.
Both teams will play Elms in the next week. The Colonials will play them on Thursday at 4 Pm in a non-conference game while the Lancers wrap up their regular season with the Blazers at noon in a NEWLA contest.
Release Courtesy of Western Connecticut Sports Information