MANSFIELD, Conn. – The Worcester State University women's lacrosse team suffered a 16-6 loss to the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors Tuesday evening at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex, as the hosts caused a season-high 33 Lancer turnovers.
With the loss, the Lancers slip to 1-6 on the season, while Eastern advances to 7-3.
Eastern won four draws and 15 Worcester turnovers helped the Warriors score the first seven goals of the match over the first 16 minutes of action. It wasn't until the 17th minute of play that Worcester State was able to reach the board, as they answered with three final goals of the half to slice the Eastern lead to just four.
Eastern countered with the first seven goals of the second half to pull away.
The ten-goal differential is the largest in the four-game series between the clubs, with the first three contests being decided by a total of six goals. The Warriors won the second in a row in the series after Worcester captured the first two.
Eastern's senior midfielders Caroline Regan (Niantic, Conn.) and Paige Schneider (East Lyme, Conn.), and junior defender Allison Nadeau (Tolland, Conn.) combined to pick up 18 ground balls.
Worcester's 33 turnovers and Eastern's season-high total of 30 ground balls helped limit the visitors to just 19 shots. Regan led players on both teams with seven ground balls, Nadeau collecting six and Schneider adding five. Off the bench, freshman attack Alyssa Powers (Ellington, Conn.) chipped in four ground balls to go along with three goals.
The Warriors won 14 of 23 draws, Schneider, Regan and Nadeau combing for ten.
Sophomore attack Michelina Pinto (Groton, Conn.) led both teams with five goals, Schneider scoring the first three goals of the match in less than five minutes and finishing with four. Junior attack Katie Burke (South Windsor, Conn.) led players on both team with four assists and also contributed two goals.
Worcester State got three goals from junior midfielder Mackenzie Little (Marlborough, Mass.) and two goals and two assists from junior attack Alexis Vecchiarelli (Agawam, Mass.). Little also won four draws and shared the team lead with junior defender Alexa Harvey (Attleboro, Mass.), both with five ground balls.
Worcester State returns to action on Thursday (April 6) when the host Rhode Island College at 7 p.m. for their "one love" game. The game is also a "Lifetime Lancer" game where all Worcester State students have the opportunity to sign up HERE to receive a free hotdog, drink, and popcorn.
Release Courtesy of Eastern Connecticut Sports Information