The Worcester State University field hockey team completed a four-game win streak, capped off with a LEC win over the visiting Vikings of Salem State University. Junior defender, Emily Saucier (Auburn, MA) had one goal and one assist in the Lancers victory.
Worcester got on the board in the 8th minute of play, when Worcester's senior midfielder, Lexie Panagiotopoulos (Lowell, MA) took a penalty corner, which eventually found the stick of first-year forward, Madison Avilla (Westport, MA). Avilla slid the ball to Saucier who fired a shot past Salem's senior goalkeeper, Kelli McCarthy (Foxborough, MA) to put the Lancers up by one.
The lead was short-lived, as 20-seconds later the Vikings ended up with a penalty corner of their own. Salem's junior midfielder, Mikayla Mason (Beverly, MA) pushed the ball up to senior midfielder, Allison Couillard (Tewksbury, MA) who put the ball past Worcester's first year keeper, Madison Ferrara (Somerset, MA).
The game remained deadlocked at one, until Worcester found themselves with another penalty corner with 0 seconds remaining on the clock at the end of the third quarter. This time, Panagiotopoulos would find Saucier at the top of the circle. Saucier returned the ball to Panagiotopoulos who fired a hard shot past McCarthy for the go-ahead goal and eventual game-winner.
Worcester's junior forward, Emily Floury (Warren, MA) added an insurance goal in the 51st minute of play coming off of a rebound of a Hope Makey (Clinton, MA) shot.
Salem made a strong push late in the 4th quarter, with three shots by Mason, but Ferrara proved to be too strong for the Viking offense. Mason's best attempt came when she wristed a shot high towards the left corner of the net, but Ferrara blocked it down and out of play.
Worcester's Ferrara had 8 saves on the game, while Salem's McCarthy had 9. Worcester improved to 4-0 (1-0, LEC) with the victory, while Salem fell to 2-2 (0-1, LEC) with the loss. Worcester returns to action on Tuesday, September 14th at Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA) for a 6:00pm start.