Worcester, MA --- Senior Brianne Beckman (Lakeville, MA) and junior Laura Maunsell (Medford, MA) both tallied two goals each as they helped lead Worcester State to a 7-2 triumph over Framingham State on the opening weekend of MASCAC play this afternoon at Coughlin Field.

Junior Gaby Gonet (Agawam, MA) got the Lancers (3-3, 1-0 MASCAC) on the board early with her header off a beautiful corner kick by Beckman just 3:18 into the game.

Beckman then notched a goal of her own in the tenth minute when she chipped a shot off the far post into the back of the net on a long pass over the top of the Ram defense by sophomore Margo Clifford (Attleboro, MA).

The Rams (1-3, 0-1 MASCAC) were able to answer nine minutes later when third-year Marissa D'Angelo (Whitman, MA) netted her first goal of the year to cut the lead in half.

But Maunsell came through in a big way by finding the back of the net on back-to-back occasions ten minutes apart midway though the period.

The first was the eventual game winner which came off a beautiful pass through the middle of the field by classmate Makayla Moran (Leominster, MA) in the 27th  minute.

Then sophomore Alyssa Sawyer (W. Springfield, MA) was able to connect with Maunsell who unleashed a laser from the top of the box making the score 4-1 with 8:15 to play in the first half.

What seemed to be a comfortable halftime lead of 4-1 easily could have been a one goal game if not for a couple of spectacular defensive team saves by the Lancers.

In the 32nd minute, senior Mariah Messina (Tewksbury, MA) rejected a shot at the top of the box by FSU junior Kayla Austin (Winchester, MA), who saw an opportunity with the keeper out of the net.

Four minutes later, freshman Kaitlyn Coelho (Ludlow, MA) would put herself in harms way to stop a header attempt from sophomore Isabela DeSouza (Framingham, MA) off a corner kick.

The Blue and Gold went into the intermission leading in shots 10-6, and corner kicks 4-1.

Beckman wasted no time in the final period to register her second goal of the contest when she found the far post on a pass up the right side from sophomore Therese Morss (Marion, MA) in the 51st minute.

The Rams attempted a comeback when Austin provided a great cross off a corner kick that was headed in by sophomore Marisa Parent (Revere, MA) with 20:50 left in the contest.

However, the WSU defense stiffened up and didn't allow another scoring chance the rest of the way.

Freshman Kara Rys (Ware, MA) provided some insurance for the Lancers tallying her first collegiate goal with just under 13 minutes remaining in the contest.

Worcester State would end the game leading in shots, 24-18, and in corner kicks, 7-2.

With her marker this afternoon, Gonet now has 10 goals and six helpers for 26 points in two-plus seasons for WSU as she became the 24th Lancer to reach the 25 point milestone.

Both teams will play non-conference opponents on Tuesday. The Lancers will host Plymouth State on Tuesday at 7 while the Rams head east to Babson for a 4 PM kickoff.

Story by John Hanna – Worcester State Sports Information Graduate Assistant