Telegram & Gazette College College Round Up Lead
Danbury, CT --- Sophomore Julie O'Rourke (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) had a hand in three of Worcester State's four goals as the Lancers blanked Western Connecticut 4-0 this evening on the road in Little East Conference field hockey action at the Western Athletic Complex.
With the win the Blue and Gold improve their record to 7-4 overall and 2-4 in the LEC while the Colonials slip to 4-7 and 1-5 in league play.
Despite being outshot 12-3 in the opening frame by the hosts, WSU ended the first period with the 2-0 advantage on the scoreboard.
Sophomore Erika Lepkowski (Baldwinville, MA) netted her fifth marker of the campaign off an assist by O'Rourke with 27:28 off the clock get the Lancers offense started.
Less than 2½ minutes later, O'Rourke fired a rocket at the top of the circle to help put the Lancers up by two at the break following nice cross off a penalty corner by junior Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA). O'Rourke potted her fifth tally of the year for the Lancers.
After a break at the half, Worcester State put the game away with two more goals as they ended the frame with the 10-2 lead in shots.
McPherson, who had been originally denied by the keeper following a breakaway, potted her squad-best eighth goal of the season off a nice cross from O'Rourke at the 52:44 mark off the redirected shot.
Freshman Katelyn Carmody (Shelbourne Falls, MA) redeemed herself on the final goal of the contest 10 minute later as the assist came from classmate Meghan Pini (Natick, MA).
Carmody nearly had her fourth goal of the season seconds before, but her attempt was deflected out of bounds on a tremendous stick save in the top right corner by WSCU senior keeper Courtney Hearn (New Fairfield, CT).
McPherson potted her squad-best eighth goal of the season off a nice cross from O'Rourke at the 52:44 mark before freshman Katelyn Carmody (Shelbourne Falls, MA) scooped in her fourth goal nearly 10 minutes later. Carmody's goal was assisted by freshman Meghan Pini (Natick, MA).
Senior Allison Romano (E. Bridgewater, MA) stopped all seven shots she saw between the pipes for the Blue and Gold while freshman Kristy Trotta (Danbury, CT) and Hearn split time for Western Connecticut. Trotta turned aside two shots in 52:44 of game play while Hearn recorded five saves in the final 17:16 of game play.
With her five points tonight – O'Rourke becomes the 33rd Lancer to join the 25 point club. Her two assists put her at 10 to lead the Little East Conference and tie a school record that was set by Cristen Watt in 2001.
WSU finished with the 14-13 edge in shots (12-7 on goal) while the Colonials led in penalty corners, 6-5.
Both squads entertain LEC opponents this weekend at 2 PM. Worcester State hosts Keene State on Saturday while WSCU entertains Bridgewater State on Sunday.
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