Worcester, MA --- Senior Brianna Gerrior (Gloucester, MA) stroked the game-winning shot on a pass from classmate Marisa Ayotte (Feeding Hills, MA) with 51 seconds left in regulation to help lift New England College to a 2-1 triumph this evening over Worcester State in non-conference field hockey action at Coughlin Field.

The Pilgrims (8-6) got off to a great start 5:18 into the game when Ayotte netted her team-leading 18th marker of the season as she scored on a deflected save from junior Kat Masterjohn (Warren, MA).

New England College continued to apply pressure over the next 15 minutes of game play as Masterjohn would make three great stops.

Worcester State (6-8) used the momentum to score on their first shot of the game. Senior Megan Feehan (Lunenburg, MA) netted the game-tying goal off a corner pass from junior Samantha Janda (W. Boylston, MA) at 25:02.

The Lancers would hold a 5-1 edge in shots over the final 10 minutes of the first period, but three of their shots on goal were stopped by Gerrior, junior Amanda Naimie (York, ME) and senior Heather DiNapoli (Concord, NH) who all would log defensive saves.

Eight minutes into the second frame, New England College had a great chance to score the go-ahead tally on an attempt at the middle of the net by senior Emily Kuchta (Norwalk, CT), but junior Haley Erickson (Saugus, MA) used her stick to prevent the ball from entering the net for her first defensive stop of the season.

NEC would hold an 8-4 lead in shots and a 5-2 edge in corners, but the game was gridlocked as both back lines played tremendous defense.

The Lancers best opportunity to score with three minutes left in the game when Janda had a good look with the keeper out of the net, but her bid sailed to the left.

In the waning minutes of the game the Pilgrims used one final offensive push as they capitalized on a penalty corner to set up the late-match heroics of Gerrior, who hit a rocket right to a WSU defender, but she could not control the ball as it went through the pipes.

The Pilgrims finished with a 17-10 lead in shots (9-8 on goal) and a slight 9-7 advantage in penalty corners. Seven of WSU's eight setbacks have been by one goal.

Freshman keeper Jesse Kilcullen (N. Salem, NY) improved her record to 3-1 with the triumph as she collected five saves. Masterjohn finished with seven stops for the Lancers.

Both teams will play conference opponents on Saturday. Worcester State looks to end a four-game drought as they travel up to Keene State for a 1:30 contest while NEC takes on Nichols in a key Commonwealth Coast Conference matchup at 1 o'clock.