Worcester, MA- With one game already under their belt, the Worcester State Women's Lacrosse team (1-0, 0-0) looks to continue their stellar start to the season as they journey to Simmons this evening to take on the Sharks. With the weather warming and the snow melting, the Lancers are set to stretch the field a look to tack on to their already 18 goals on the season with another offensive dominant performance today.
Final
Worcester State: 19
Simmons: 1
How it Happened:
Worcester State would continue their offensive dominance into their second game of the season recording their opening goal just 20 seconds into the game. Junior Molly Witkowski (Greenville, NY) would receive the draw from sophomore Madigan Kelley (Bourne, MA) and charge down the field to open the action. It would take over two minutes for the Lancers second goal this time off senior Abbie Wing (Griswold, CT) off the ground ball snag of fellow senior Hannah Erickson (Dunstable, MA). Wing would keep the scoring going as she recorded her second just minutes later this time off the pass from sophomore Kerry Brown (Billerica, MA). The Sharks defense would slow down the Lancers charge but they would take a 4-0 lead with Witkowski's second of the game in just the opening quarter. Simmons would hope to cut into the charge as they recorded their first, and ultimate only goal of the game, which was followed up a minute later with goal five from, this time, Kelley with an assist to junior Abigail Vincent (Lakeville, MA). In the final seconds of the first Wing would complete the hat trick after a quick dish from junior Shannon Donahue (Dennis, MA).
With the score already at 6-1, Worcester State would not lighten their pressure as Erickson and Witkowski would partner up for goal number seven followed up in under a minute with Witkowski setting up the goal for junior Mckayla Fisher (Peabody, MA). With a two player advantage Worcester would record goal number nine as Witkowski would get the aid from Kelley this time. A free position opportunity would provide goals 10 and 11 off the quick release of Brown and Donahue, which provided the running clock advantage for Worcester State. In the final minute of the second, Wing would close out the first half to lead a 12-1 score into halftime.
The third quarter started with Simmons controlling the ball but senior Olivia LaValle (Peabody, MA) stood tall in net to stop the first drive of the quarter by Simmons. Worcester State ended up controlling the rest of the quarter and kept dominating the field. A goal by senior Ashley Hurley (Feeding Hills, MA) put the Lancers up 13-1. Shortly after Donahue gave a perfect pass to Brown who found the back of the net. After a green card on Simmons, Witkowski scored to move the score 15-1. Worcester's Kelly scored off of a free position shot with 4:11 left in the quarter and another goal came Worcester's way as Wing also found the back of the net to take a 17-1 lead into the fourth.
The fourth quarter started out with Simmons on the attack to start the quarter again but Worcester ended up clearing Simmons' attempt as their defense remained solid down the final stretch. Simmons ended up getting a yellow card to find them a woman down which enabled Wing to score thanks to a great pass from Donahue. The final scoring of the day would find Erickson, on the advantage, record goal 19 off a dish from Fisher. The final six minutes of the meeting would find Worcester continuing to work around the arc, but the Sharks defense would hold off any further scoring on the night as Worcester walked away with the 19-1 win.
Wing would lead the day with six points in the action, all coming off a double hat trick on the day with six goals added to her tally, while Erickson would record her 100th career point in the game.
What's Next:
Worcester State (2-0, 0-0) is back in action on Saturday afternoon for the noon meeting with Southern Maine. The home opener will be played in honor of Ovarian Cancer Awareness and the Nicole Downs Memorial Scholarship Fund with donations being accepted both on the teams instagram page and during Saturday's game.