Salem State 1, Worcester State 0

Worcester, MA --- Salem State junior Kaitlyn Aronian (Chelmsford, MA) netted the games only marker as the Vikings would defeat Worcester State, 1-0, in Little East Conference field hockey action this afternoon. With the win SSC improves to 4-5 and 2-4 in the Little East while the Lancers slip to 6-7 and 3-4 in the conference.

A strong offensive push in the half set the tone for the Vikings right away as the visitors would outshoot the Blue and Gold 7-1 in the opening frame. Senior April Rossetti (Saugus, MA) took the first shot of the game for Salem State, but it was rejected by WSU junior Lauren Daley (Dedham, MA) for her LEC leading eighth defensive save of the season.

SSU would also hold a 5-0 edge in corners (9-1 overall), but the Lancers did a good job to keep them off the board for a scoreless game at the intermission.

The Vikings would continue to apply pressure and found success midway through the second period as Aronian scored on a breakaway to get past a defender at 55:29. She would notch her squad-best sixth goal of the year for Salem State.

After the goal was scored, Worcester State would play with a little more intensity, but they could not get into the circle to fire off a clean attempt at the opposing net as SSU earned their second straight victory. Junior Kat Masterjohn (Warren, MA) would record stop five of the six shots she saw on net to help propel the Lancers defensive effort.

Senior Jessica McKenna (Rowley, MA) registered her first complete game shutout of the 2010 campaign for the Vikings in the win. McKenna was not called upon to make a save.

The Blue and Gold will host New England College in a non conference contest on Thursday at 7 PM while Salem State will continue LEC play with a makeup game on Monday against Bridgewater State at 11 AM from a game two weeks ago that got rained out.