Worcester, MA- The Lancers (2-4) faced the Wheaton Lyons (6-2) today at John Coughlin Memorial Field.
The Lancers took the field to try and bounce back from two straight home losses since returning from South Carolina for their spring break matchups. Wheaton has been clicking lately as they have won three straight averaging 15 goals per game while the Lancers come in averaging 11 goals per game in their sixth game.
Seniors Clare Conway (Billerica, MA) and Shea Jarvis (Auburn, MA), sophomore Hannah Erickson (Dunstable, MA), along with first-year standout Mckayla Fisher (Peabody, MA) are the four double-digit point leaders for the Lancers so far this season. In order, each has 20, 19, 10, and 18, and look to add to that total against the roaring Lyons.
It was a rough first half for the Lancers as Wheaton gave them all they could handle. The Lancers would tally up three goals against a Lyons team that held possession for most of the half. Conway would lead the team in goals (2) and shots (3) out of seven total for the team. Shannon Donahue (Dennis, MA) would score.
Wheaton would give the Lancers a tough first quarter having first-year Jessica Chamberlain (Bow, NH) open up the scoring for the game with an assist by Jessie Killburn (North Branford, CT). Senior Brooke Harvey (Cape Elizabeth, ME) scored off of a free shot at 8:05 left in the quarter. Killburn scores a goal to add to her assist for the Lyons to give Wheaton a score of 3-0. The Lancers would eventually pose a strong counterattack off a Wheaton turnover where Jarvis would draw a penalty and would find Conway for the Lancer's first goal of the game. Sophomore Sophie Gromala (Killingworth, CT) would add a goal for the Lyons to close the first quarter scoring at 4-1. Senior Savanna Rosado (Milford, MA) would keep Worcester in it with four difficult saves.
Sophomore Lara Finnie (Westfield, MA) would take control of the game herself using her speed and strength to get past multiple defenders for an impressive goal. Harvey would find Killburn with a great pass as Killburn was in full speed towards the goal to finish off the play. Junior Avonlea LeBeau (North Branford, Conn) and Harvey add goals to make the score 8-1. LeBeau would score within minutes of her previous goal to make the score 9-1. Conway would respond on a rebound off the goalie and an athletic jumping shot from a difficult angle. Finnie would display her strength and accuracy with a great shot to give her a second goal in the game. First-year Shannon Donahue (Dennis, MA) was fouled setting her up for a free run and scored on a bouncing dribbler past the Lyons goalkeeper Emily Oundjian (Longmeadow, MA) making it 10-3. Donahue would also have another great scoring chance but Oundjian would stop her from getting her second goal. Harvey would answer back with her third goal before the end of the half making it 11-3
HALFTIME: Lancers 3, Wheaton 11
The second half was a much better game for the Lancers. They were able to get better shot opportunities and gain more valuable possession time. They were able to manage three unanswered goals after an impressive first-half showing by Wheaton. Rosado had to work all evening but was able to manage impressive saves to keep Worcester in it. Rosado would also pick up her a milestone 300th career save in the thirteen save performance for the Lancers. First-year McKayla Fisher (Peabody, MA), senior Lily Gendron (Lakeville, MA), and Jarvis would all add goals in this half.
The Lancers would come out in the second half with an aggressive attack to make a dent in the lead to make their comeback chances better. First-year Fisher would impress with a flashy solo goal as she juked and used her speed to finish off the possession giving her a 12th goal on the season. Finnie and Harvey add more goals to their stats with Finnie going back-to-back with herself and Harvey getting her fourth of the evening making the score 14-4. Harvey put her burners on to advance Wheaton into Lancer territory with Kilburn finishing off the counter-attack to make it 15-4. Gendron would get herself into the scoring action by scoring her second goal within seconds in the third giving the Lancers better chances at a comeback with the score being 15-6 to end the third. Gendron's goals would be assisted by Fisher and sophomore Ava Gesner Norton, MA).
The fourth quarter started off with Worcester's dominance with Conway assisting Jarvis for her 11th of the season. With the score 15-7, LeBeau completes her hat trick with 9:54 left in the game to give her team more insurance. Senior Erin Ortega (Merrimack, NH) and LeBeau score to make it 19-7.
FINAL: Lancers 7, Wheaton 19
The Lancer's record moves to 2-5 and Wheaton improves to (7-2)The next game for the Lancers will be the first conference matchup of the season against Bridgewater St. (4-5) @ home at 12 PM.