Worcester, MA --- Sophomore Jackie Morin (Scarborough, ME) and junior Olivia Colborn (Lancaster, NH) each notched second-half markers to help lead Plymouth State to a 2-1 win over Worcester State in Little East field hockey action this afternoon.
With the win the Panthers remain unbeaten at 5-0 (2-0 LEC) while Worcester State drops their first setback of the season to fall to 4-1 (1-1 LEC).
The Lancers started off the contest strong when senior Samantha Janda (Sterling, MA) sent in her third marker of the season at the 7:43 mark, but the Panthers would regain the momentum by outshooting Worcester State, 4-2 and the visitors had four corner opportunities in the last 20 minutes of the stanza.
Plymouth State finally broke into the scoring column when Morin shot in a rebounded save to knot the game up 1-1 early on in the frame at 41:58. Colborn then added the game-clinching tally exactly eight minutes later when she shot in a pass from senior Christina Parisi (Hampton, NH).
The Lancers would pull their goalkeeper in favor of the designated keeper for the final five minutes in an attempt to tie the score with just under five minutes remaining. They would have a chance on a penalty corner, but junior Alison Valencia's (Foxboro, MA) stroke was rejected by third-year Hilary Lemelin (Milan, NH).
There were three defensive saves in the contest. Sophomore Amanda Butler (Newton, NH) made a stop for the Panthers and then WSU senior Lauren Daley (Dedham, MA) had two – one which came while the net was empty near the end of the half to keep the contest a one possession game.
Lemelin finished with five saves while junior Rebecca Mullen (Peabody, MA) turned aside six shots for Worcester State.
Shots for both squads were even, 13-13, as Plymouth State led in corners, 10-4.
The two teams are back at it next week when they will do some traveling for their next contest. The Blue and Gold will head to Becker for a 4 PM start on Thursday while the Panthers head to the south-west for a make-up game against Colby-Sawyer on Monday at 4 o'clock.