Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Women's Lacrosse(0-0,0-0) team opened up their season today by traveling to Wheaton College (0-0,0-0) for a noon matchup. The Lancers open up their season with two away and then two at home for the first four games of the season.This non-conference opponent will be a solid test to open up the season for the Lancers.
Final:
Worcester State: 14
Wheaton:13
The match opened up with the Lancers winning many of the early faceoffs and with the pressing well organized and structured, resulting in many counter opportunities for the squad. Unfortunately, Wheaton would find the back of the net first taking the lead 5 minutes into the first quarter. The Lancers would respond with a graduate student Shea Jarvis' (Auburn, MA) goal. The prolific goal scorer got off to a quick start. She has had over 20 goals and assists in her last two seasons. The match's first quarter would see a couple more goals for each team and end with the scoreline reading 3-2 in favor of the Lancers.
The second quarter would see a continuation of aggressive play in the midfield as sophomore Mckayla Fisher (Peabody, MA) racked up plenty of rookie honors in her first season and continued to show her skill on the field to start her second year. First year Jordyn Bolduc (Auburn, MA) would claim the opening game start with a save rate for the first half above 65 percent. Wheaton would capitalize on a turnover by the Lancers defense and score to make it 3-3 as the second quarter action started. Sophomore Molly Witkowski (Greenville, NY) would score and assist on fellow sophomore Abby Vincent's (Lakeville, MA) goal to help the Lancers make it 5-5. To wrap up the third quarter Meghan Bowen (Westfield, MA) would find the back of the net after being assisted by Hurley to see the quarter settle at 6-6.
Wheaton would open up the second half with two quick goals to make the scoreline 8-6. The Lancers would strike back with a Witkowski solo goal with about 10 minutes to go in the quarter. Wheaton would go on a run where they maintained possession uninterrupted for 2 minutes and they would score to make it 9-7. The Lancers found a way to calm the game down and eventually see out many of Wheatons attacks. The Lancers added more players to their rotation but it would be Vincent to score making the score 9-8. A quick goal from a set play made the score 9-9 as Junior Hannah Erickson (Dunstable, MA) would be the one to put the ball in the back of the net. With a minute to go the Lancers let up two goals. A two goal deficit heading into the fourth quarter was what the Lancers would have to overcome.
The Lancers would take this setback and score three goals unanswered. Two of these would be from set plays. The scoreline would read 12-11 with 10 minutes left in the contest. Wheaton would respond back with two goals in 2 minutes after they managed to regain control of the match. This would make the score 13-12 with 4 minutes left to go. First year Madigan Kelley (Bourne, MA) a first year would answer the teams desire to push this game to OT, scoring a solo goal to make it 13-13 with one minute to go. Both teams would see out the remainder of the fourth quarter, opening the season with the first game, and first OT, of the season.
Overtime would see both teams focus on their defense and how best to stop one another. There were less set plays and more focus on how to get control in the midfield. Fisher would step up to the plate when it comes to someone who made impact plays all game, scoring the game winner in the overtime period. While it was unassisted the Lancers would be all contributors in their first game with 10 different Lancers either score or assist in the match.
The Lancers (1-0, 0-0) will travel again to play Bates College on Wednesday February 28th at 5pm and look to carry the positive momentum over to their next contest.