WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State University's junior midfielder Mackenzie Little (Marlboro, Mass.) scored a career-high seven goals in the Lancers' 13-10 victory over the Colby-Sawyer Charges in Wednesday night's non-conference action at Coughlin Field.
Little led the squad with seven goals and picked up a game-high six ground balls and four draws, while Angelina Sutherland (Tyngsboro, Mass.) collected five points on three goals and two assists. Alexis Vecchiarelli (Agawam, Mass.) and Alaina Martin (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) each tallied a goal and two assists in the win.
Guiding the Chargers' offense was Nicole Lavigne (Berlin, Vt.) who picked up four goals and two assists, and led her team in ground balls and draws with two apiece. Both Brittany Ireland (Amherst, N.H.) and Carli Chiodo (Madbury, N.H.) each scored two goals in the loss.
Worcester State jumped off to a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of play on goals from Vecchiarelli and Little. Colby-Sawyer responded with four back-to-back goals from Chiodo, Sierra Schuster (Hopkinton, N.H.), Lavigne, and Shae-Lyn Walker (Newington, N.H.) to take a 4-2 lead. Worcester State closed the half with two goals of their own as Sutherland made one and assisted another from Little to knot the score at 4-4.
Worcester State began the second half with a 5-0 run to advance the score to 9-4. The Lancers allowed the Chargers two goals before they scored again in the 18th minute on a tally from Kylie Farrell (Sutton, Mass.). The two teams went back-and-forth in the next six minutes of play until Little score two-back-to-back goals for the Lancers – one on a free position shot, and the other on a man-up opportunity – to increase the Blue and Gold's lead to five. The Chargers ended the game with two of their own from Chiodo and Lavigne, but fell short three goals as the final score read 13-10.
Despite the loss for the Chargers, Colby-Sawyer held the advantage in draw controls 15-10. Worcester State outnumbered the visitors 26-16 in ground balls.
Both teams' clear percentage were in the same range, as Colby-Sawyer went 11-15, and Worcester State cleared 14-of-18 attempts.
Worcester State's Krissy Pessa (Walpole, Mass.) earned the win in goal as she turned away 4-of-14 shots on net. Colby-Sawyer's Meghan Castellano (Wallingford, Conn.) was tabbed the loss in 37:18 minutes played. She marked an 8-save performance, while Kailyn Lapham (Medway, Mass.) saw 22:42 minutes in goal and stopped four shots.
Next up, Worcester State (5-8) travels to Westfield State on Friday (Apr. 21) for a 7 p.m. Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game. Colby-Sawyer (9-4) returns to action on Saturday (Apr. 22) when they match up against Castleton University in New London, N.H. with a 12 noon draw.