Worcester, MA --- Junior Alyssa Sawyer (W. Springfield, MA) chipped in with two assists and classmate Cassie Giardina (Pittsfield, MA) potted the game-winning goal as they both helped lift Worcester State to a 3-1 triumph over Colby-Sawyer in non-conference women's soccer action this evening at Coughlin Field.
With the win the Lancers improve to 7-5-1 while the Chargers (13-3) see their five-game winning streak come to an end.
In a tightly contested opening stanza that only saw three combined shots, the hosts struck the first blow in the seventh minute. Senior Kelsey Cartwright (Bridgewater, MA) took a feed from the left side of the box from Sawyer as she finished third of the season to the bottom right corner.
Nursing the one-goal edge entering the second half, Giardina helped put the Blue and Gold up 2-0 in the 53rd minute by finishing a solid cross from the right goal line by Sawyer who dished out her team-leading fourth assist of the campaign.
The Chargers then put some pressure on the Lancer net when senior Adrienne Bender (Wakefield, RI) had a pair of attempts on net, but her first attempt was blocked by the defense and the second was scooped by sophomore net minder Jillian Witkowski (Leicester, MA).
Worcester State nearly made it a three-tally advantage in the 58th minute when senior Gaby Gonet (Agawam, MA) was wide open in front of the net, however, junior Heather Carol (Tewksbury, MA) lobbed a high kick out of bounds to preserve contest for Colby-Sawyer.
The play loomed large for the Chargers who cut the lead in half in the 70th minute. Junior Sarah Little (Scarborough, ME) took a chance from 35-yards out following a free kick and found success when Witkowski couldn't corral the save. Little's marker was her seventh of the year for Colby-Sawyer.
But Worcester State responded in the 76th minute to make it a 3-1 game on the fifth tally of the season by Gonet, who used her second effort on a pass from freshman Kendal Bergenholtz (Grafton, MA) following a rebounded shot on net.
Colby-Sawyer had a good look with just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation to get back into the contest.
Freshman Rachel Quaye (Westminster, MA) fed a nice pass from the right side of the net to junior Michelle Upham (Chelsea, VT) who fired a shot from close range, but Witkoswki snatched the ball in midair to preserve the margin.
The attempt for the Chargers proved to be their final try for the evening as the Lancers did not allow another shot for the rest of the game.
Witkowski stopped three of the four shots she saw on net while sophomore Karley Hamilton (Bradford, VT) recorded one save in the setback for Colby-Sawyer. Worcester State led in shots 11-10 (5-4 on goal) and corner kicks, 3-1.
With her marker tonight, Gonet moves into the top 10 on the Worcester State's all-time scoring list as she passed Lauren Desimone (1999-02) with her 21st career tally and 55th point.
Both squads continue their respective league schedules this weekend. Worcester State travels to Salem State for a 2:30 matchup while the Chargers entertain Castleton State at 4:30 in a battle of North Atlantic Conference unbeatens.