Worcester, MA --- Junior Alyssa Sawyer (W. Springfield, MA) collected a goal and an assist to help lift Worcester State past Mass Maritime, 5-0, in MASCAC women's soccer action this afternoon at Coughlin Field.

With the victory the Lancers improve to 2-1-1 in conference play and 6-5-1 overall, while the Buccaneers drop to 0-4 in league play and 4-5-2 on the campaign.

Sawyer started the scoring early as she raced up the right side past a few defenders and beat the goalie on the short side for the 1-0 lead at the 8:49 mark.

Mass Maritime had their best opportunity to score in the 27th minute when sophomore Emily Behen (Danvers, MA) let loose a rocket from the right corner of the box, but the shot sailed high and out of harms way preserving the lead for Worcester State.

WSU stretched their lead to two goals when junior Sarina Lathrop (Hopedale, MA) potted her first marker of the season off a beautiful pass by sophomore Kiley Hardy (Pepperell, MA) just before the 30 minute mark.

With just under three minutes to play in the first stanza Lathrop saw an empty net in front of her and chipped the ball toward the opening, however, she was denied by senior Crystal Sherman (Charlton, MA) who made a beautiful team save by kicking the ball away and keeping it a 2-0 contest headed into the intermission.

The Blue and Gold put the game out of reach in the second half as they netted a trio of goals over a three-minute span to break things wide open.

Third-year Cassie Giardina (Pittsfield, MA) sent a missile off the inside of the left post that dribbled into the back of the net off a great pass by freshman Beth Spinazzola (Westford, MA) for the 3-0 advantage in the 56th minute.

Just 35 ticks later senior Gaby Gonet (Agawam, MA) registered her fourth goal of the season off a sensational middle cross by junior Shelby Archer (Dayville, CT) for the 4-0 edge.

Sawyer then found senior Laura Maunsell (Medford, MA) on the left side and she blasted a shot into the top left corner in the 59th minute to cap the scoring for Worcester State.

Buccaneer sophomore keeper Katie Levesque (Wilmot, NH) registered 10 saves in the setback.

WSU sophomore net-minder Jillian Witkowski (Leicster, MA) was not called upon to make a save before she was replaced by first-year Vanessa O'Donnell (Worcester, MA/Doherty) who also saw no action over the final 11:45 of the contest.

Worcester State outshot their opponents 33-1 (15-0 on goal) and also held the 10-0 lead in corner kicks.

Both squads play non-conference opponents at 7 PM after the holiday. Worcester State hosts Colby-Sawyer on Wednesday while Mass Maritime returns home to take on Curry on Tuesday.

Story by John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant

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