Worcester, MA --- Junior Kaila Chase (Northbridge, MA) registered four goals while classmate Jackie Connors (Ashland, MA) and sophomore Angelina Sutherland (Tyngsboro, MA) combined for seven assists to help pace Worcester State to a 12-7 triumph over Salem State in MASCAC women's lacrosse action this afternoon at Coughlin Field.
With the win the Lancers snap a two-game skid to improve to 7-2 (1-1 MASCAC) while the Vikings slip to 5-4 and 0-2 against conference opponents.
Sutherland finished with three helpers, a trio of draw controls and seven ground balls while Connors match a season high with four assists as she is now only six away from tying the career record of 89 held by Shannon Feeley (2006-09).
Senior Angela Grassetti (Feeding Hills, MA) logged a game-best six draws and classmate senior Molly Kilday (Westford, MA) poured in a hat-trick. Defensively, junior Amanda Pruyn (Tyngsboro, MA) and classmate Katelyn Murphy (Billerica, MA) both finished with four ground balls and three forced miscues.
For the Vikings, freshman Courtney Smith (Peabody, MA) and senior Kelsey Russell (Arlington, MA) recorded two goals apiece as the sophomore net minder Chyenne Jackson (Peabody, MA) was a force on the back line with seven grounders and four caused turnovers.
Russell and junior Amnda Nihan (Peabody, MA) both notched six ground balls each, while combining for five forced Lancer errors.
After Salem State staked the early advantage on markers by senior Kristina Ventura (Billerica, MA) and sophomore Katie Hart (Beverly, MA), Chase came back with a pair of tallies to knot up the score 2-2 off a free position shot with 23:50 left in the opening stanza.
Viking senior Elizabeth Kozak (Milton, MA) responded less than two minutes later and freshman Alexis Vecchiarelli (Agawam, MA) tied up the game as 16:49 read on the clock.
An incredible stretch of 15 minutes rolled by without a score before Smith sent in an eight-meter shot with 42 ticks left in the first half for the 4-3 edge by SSU at the intermission.
Salem State had their chances to build up the lead throughout the frame and failed to do so as they had a remarkable 23 clear chances. The visitors though only got the ball over the WSU restraining line 11 times and managed five shots on goal.
Smith potted her second goal of the game with 25:38 remaining, but the Lancers offense took control with an 8-2 spurt to close out the contest.
Connors was instrumental in the early part of the run with a trifecta of assists to three different players to help the Blue and Gold take over the 9-5 edge with 20:53 remaining.
Russell did hit home a marker with 11:43 left on free position shot to trail by three goals, however, Chase scored two of WSU's next three tallies to give the hosts the margin they needed to seal up the victory.
Jackson (5-4) collected seven saves while sophomore Lea Robichaud (Holden, MA) stopped seven shots on goal and she saw her record improve to 7-1.
Worcester State enjoyed a 27-14 advantage in shot and a 40-35 edge in ground balls. The Blue and Gold also dominated the draw (14-6) and had an effective clearing percentage (15-for-20 - .750).
Both squads will play again on the road this Tuesday evening. The Lancers take on Castleton State at 7 PM as Salem State heads to Regis for a 5 PM meeting.
You can follow the Worcester State Lancers on Facebook, Twitter and by subscribing to our news updates