Worcester, MA --- Sophomore Angelina Sutherland (Tyngsboro, MA) registered a career best six points on four goals and two assists to help pace Worcester State to a 15-9 victory over Fitchburg State in MASCAC women's lacrosse action at Coughlin Field this afternoon.
With the victory, the Lancers improve to 11-4 overall and 4-1 in conference play. The Blue and Gold also stand alone in second place in the league standings. The Falcons fall to 12-3 (3-2 MASCAC) and are tied with Framingham State for third in the eight-team loop.
Junior teammates Kaila Chase (Northbridge, MA) and Jackie Connors (Ashland, MA) both recorded hat-tricks while Connors finished with six ground balls and four draws. Junior Katelyn Murphy (Billerica, MA) and senior Jackie Lawlor (Westford, MA) combined for nine ground balls and they both forced a pair of miscues.
Freshman Jaimee Lutz (Foxboro, MA), sophomore Andrea Comeau (Watertown, MA) and classmate Ali Laferriere (Tyngsboro, MA) all netted two goals each. Lutz and Laferriere tag teamed to pick up seven ground balls as freshman Carrie Long (Foxboro, MA) recorded a game-high six draw controls.
With Fitchburg State nursing the 7-5 margin early in the second period, the hosts sized the momentum by tallying six goals over an eight minute span to take over the 11-7 advantage. Chase and Sutherland both had two markers each in the run for WSU.
Lutz potted a free-position attempt with 14:59 remaining in regulation to help narrow the gap to three (11-8), but the Lancers closed out the contest using a 4-1 spurt for the final score.
The Falcons originally jumped on the board with a trio of quick goals one minute into the contest by freshman Corrine DeSimone (Dennis, MA), Comeau and Laferriere to take over the 3-0 edge.
Sutherland helped the Lancers answer by scoring their first of the game and then she assisted senior Molly Kilday (Westford, MA) with 20:31 on the clock, to trail, 3-2.
Comeau and Lutz came back with tallies 10 minutes apart before freshman Alexis Vecchiarelli (Agawam, MA) and Grassetti hit home goals in the waning moments of the opening stanza to trail 5-4 at the intermission.
Connors finished with one assist to tie former standout Shannon Feeley (2006-09) to equal the career record of 89 helpers over the course of her three-year career.
Senior Lea Robichaud (Holden, MA) turned aside eight shots for the hosts as her record moves to 11-3. Junior Elizabeth Darrigo (Billerica, MA) stopped a season-best 21 shots on goal for Fitchburg State.
Worcester State led in shots (40-22), ground balls (26-14), but only converted three of their 10 bids from the eight meter line. The Lancers finish clearing 14 of their 17 attempts – including all 10 in the second period.
The Falcons led in draws (14-11), however, they did not force a single turnover in the entire contest. WSU committed just 10 miscues which is the second lowest total they have coughed up the ball in a single game this year.
Both squads continue MASCAC play on the road this Wednesday. The Blue and Gold head to Mass Maritime for a 7 PM meeting while Fitchburg State makes the trek down Route 2 for a 4 o'clock contest against MCLA.
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