Western Connecticut 19, Worcester State 8
Worcester, MA --- Senior Kara Kruzckiewicz (Brookfield, CT) registered a season-best seven goals on seven shots to help lead Western Connecticut to a 19-8 triumph this evening over Worcester State in non conference women’s lacrosse action this evening at Coughlin Stadium. The Colonials have now won four straight to improve to 8-1 while the Lancers slip to 4-3.
WCSU sophomore Brianna Mitterando (Mastic Beach, NY) also netted a hat-trick while freshman Nicole Perrone (Brookfield, CT) added two markers and a pair of helpers. Second-year Lauren Poppe (Brookfield, CT) finished with two goals and an assist while first-year goalie Meghan Maroney (Granby, CT) scooped up a game-best seven ground balls. Sophomore Samantha Blackwell (Brewster, NY) also added four ground balls for Western Connecticut.
Junior Colleen Manning (Plainville, MA) netted a team-best three goals and added an assist for Worcester State while senior Abby Cosenza (Shrewsbury, MA) finished with a pair of goals and a pair of dishes. Cosenza along with junior Karen Feeley (W. Springfield, MA) picked up five ground balls each as Feeley forced three miscues.
Four different Colonials found the back of the net within the first 7:30 of play to put WCSU up 5-0 before Worcester State got on the board with the first of Manning’s three markers. Kruzckiewicz then netted three consecutive goals over the next 2½ minutes to help Western Connecticut take over a commanding 8-1 advantage.
The Colonials scored three of the next four goals to make the score 12-2, but the Lancers closed out the period with three consecutive goals as both teams left the field with WCSU leading 12-5 at the break.
Kruczkiewicz began the second frame with three straight goals less than two minutes apart to open up a 15-5 contest. Western Connecticut used the running time to play a possession offense and they were successful as two markers by Poppe sandwiched a Manning tally over a stretch of 10 minutes to put the visitors up 17-6.
Worcester State tried everything they could do to rally, but the Colonials increased the lead twice on a free possession goal by first-year Kelly Brennan (Hicksville, NY) and another goal in the waning minutes by Mitterando as they cruised for ahead for the victory.
Maroney made six saves between the pipes for Western Connecticut while sophomore Haley Erickson (Saugus, MA) stopped eight shots for the Lancers.
Kruckiewicz’s total was the highest goal total put up by a Colonial this season and she now leads the team with 28 markers on the season.
Both teams were even in ground balls (24-24), but Western Connecticut dominated with a 36-18 edge in shots. There were only five free possession attempts in the entire contest.
Both teams will play home teams in the next week as WSC will entertain Fitchburg State on Saturday at noon while WSCU takes on Westfield State on Thursday at 6.