WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State University's offense ignited a 19-9 victory over the Framingham State Rams Saturday afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play at John F. Coughlin Memorial Field. With the win, the Lancers advance to 5-7 and 2-1 in conference play, while the Rams dip to 7-5 and 2-1 in the MASCAC.
Worcester State's Jackie Connors (Ashland, Mass.) led the way with four goals, three assists, five draw controls, and four ground balls. Amanda Pruyn (Tyngsboro, Mass.) also added in four goals and four ground balls, along with an assist. Mackenzie Callini (W. Springfield, Mass.) logged three goals while Kaila Chase (Northbridge, Mass.) and Alaina Martin (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) chipped in two apiece.
Worcester State came out firing away to begin play, as they took a 4-0 advantage within the first 11 minutes of play. Framingham State's first goal came from Morgan Casella (Lowell, Mass.), who slipped one past Worcester's goaltender, Krissy Pessa (Wapole, Mass.). The teams battled it out for the next 10 minutes of play, until Worcester State ended the half on a 4-1 run to go into the intermission ahead by seven (11-4).
Not only did Pruyn start the scoring in the first half, but she began the second half with a goal assisted by Connors. Framingham State's Kristen Hoggins (Harvard, Mass.) responded with one from Casella before Worcester State scored four unanswered to put them up by 11.
With eight minutes remaining in the game, Framingham State had a run of their own as they scored three goals within two minutes, bringing the score within eight. Hoggins scored Framingham's State's sole free position shot, and then Jessica Graham (Woburn, Mass.) and Kristen Keenan (Methuen, Mass.) added in one each.
Despite the Rams' attempted comeback, Worcester State ended the game with two more goals as Kylie Farrell (Sutton, Mass.) buried one in the net, and then assisted a behind-the-back snipe from Connors to result in a 19-9 game.
The Lancers held the advantage in ground balls (20-12) and draw controls (19-11) and also went 3-for-4 in free position shots, while the Rams struggled and only claimed one out of five total chances.
"We passed and moved the ball well," commented head coach Deb Draper. "This really was a team win as everyone contributed for the solid win."
Worcester's goaltender, Pessa, marked her fifth win of the season with seven saves on the afternoon. Framingham State's Indigo Fox Tree-McGrath (Bedford, Mass.) suffered the loss, registering 12 saves in her full game played.
The Blue and Gold return to action on Tuesday (Apr. 19) with another MASCAC matchup against MCLA on their home turf. The Rams also host a MASCAC matchup against Fitchburg State on the same day.