Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Field Hockey team (0-6, 0-1) return to Coughlin Field to open up their MASCAC home slate by welcoming the Bridgewater Bears to Worcester, MA. The Lancers, after a tough overtime loss to Westfield State last Saturday to open conference play, are aiming for their first win of the season in the conference to kick off Homecoming/Family Weekend for the Lancers. 

Final- OT

Worcester State: 3

Bridgewater State: 2

How it Happened:

The Lancers opened up homecoming weekend with their 7pm start against the Bears with a strong offensive focused half that saw them take six shots in the opening 15-minutes. Halfway through Worcester would strike it hot off a corner when senior Natalya Morin (Barre, MA) would take a few attempts at cage before one would sneak past the goalkeeper to the stick of junior Allison Keenan (Marlborough, MA) who would waste no time sending the ball to the back boards for their first goal of the game. The remainder of the quarter and a majority of the opening half would be a complete Lancer attacking dominance but in the final minute of the second quarter the Bears found a gap into the top of the circle and collected their lone corner of the half. An insert from Abbie Zuber was immediately dished back to her on the baseline where she beat senior Madison Ferrara (Somerset, MA) to the post to sneak in the goal and send the game into halftime ties at 1-1. 

It would take just over two minutes into the new quarter for Bridgewater to grab a breakaway opportunity and with the initial shot form Samantha Souza turned away it initially appeared unthreatening but a charging Bear beat the clear and brought the pressure back on cage forcing Ferrara to the ground before Lexi James would work it off a Lancer stick and tuck it in the cage for the second goal of the game and the 2-1 lead. The remainder of the quarter would see some threat from Worcester as they resettled their composure but although they were a constant presence in the Bridgewater circle, they were unable to find the tying goal. That would happen in the fourth quarter just over a minute in as Morin would work it down the right side into the circle along with junior Kaelin Coleman (Attleboro, MA). Multiple insertions attempts in front of the cage saw a ball pop out to senior Charlotte MacGregor (Bellingham, MA) who sent a driving attempt in that tipped off of Coleman's stick to Morin who turned for the hard drive into the cage, popping the attempt off a bear stick to send it over Brianna Gagnon's shoulder for the tie.  Just over six minutes remaining in the fourth nearly saw the Bears break the tie after a scrum following a defensive corner clear failure but Ferrara laid out and held her stick strong to clear out the threat. Worcester would battle for the game winner but their attempts would travel just wide, forcing their second overtime game in a row and second in conference play. 

With 10 minutes on the clock, both squads would look to end the overtime quickly with their starting seven hitting the pitch. It would take nearly seven minutes of overtime for the deciding goal to be called but in the end Worcester would finally grab their overtime win this time off a Coleman insert to MacGregor who found junior Maggie Nailor (Dartmouth, MA) on the pads who tipped the ball over Gagnon for the game winner and the Lancers first victory of the season.

Ferrara would end the game with four saves behind Worcester's 22 shots in the game, 13 finding frame. Morin would lead the squad with 10 attempts and a goal while Coleman would have a hand in two of the goals. 

What's Next:

The Blue and Gold (1-6, 1-1) return quickly to action as they journey north to Fitchburg State to continue their MASCAC season on October 1st with a 4pm start. Bridgewater State moves to 3-4 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.