Worcester, MA- Fresh off a home upset of Western COnnecticut on Tuesday Night, the Lancers Women's Soccer team (3-5-1, 0-2) aim to continue their winning ways and claim their first conference victory of the season. Worcester will welcome the Fitchburg State Falcons to the turf, who Worcester was able to handle last season in 4-2 fashion.
Final
Worcester State: 1
Fitchburg State: 0
How it Happened:
The game's first kick would get the game off to a balanced start as each team worked the ball across the pitch as they each worked out their system and looked for holes and gaps in their oppositions sets up. Defense was the shining point for Worcester in the first half as they blocked up numerous drives into the box by the Falcons. After a quiet start for both programs though, Worcester would work their way down the field and senior Maddie Breuer (Hubbardston, MA) would place a perfect pass to junior Ella Tatarczuk (Bedford, MA) who would find the golden spot on the ball to send the shot flying past Falcons keeper Madison Dawkins for the opening goal of the game. The remainder of the half would see the Falcons offense pick up their pressure but sophomore Ella Gumienny (Douglas, MA) and the rest of her defense core would be a brick wall of pressure that found most attempts by the Falcons directed wide and away from the cage. In the final minutes of the opening half FItchburg would garner multiple chances at the cage, but Gumienny knew her position, snagging each attempt and forcing the ball back down field.
The second half of action was a far quieter game then first half with Worcester setting the majority of the pace but the goal appeared to have a force field around it for both teams as multiple shots would be carried high or wide of the cage making the work of Gumienny and Dawkins a touch easier but not quite in the final 45. Worcester would manage to rock it off 11 shots in just second half action but only two managed to two on frame, which would be the case for the Falcons as well with their four shots in the half and two on frame. With the lack of on goal success it resulted in Worcester holding on for their 1-0 lead and first conference victory on the season.
Gumienny would end the day with seven saves in the shutout while sophomore Ava Lemanski (Clinton, MA) would lead the team with six attempts. Dawkins would end the afternoon with six saves of her own and Delia Fitzgerald would lead the Falcons with three shot attempts in the action.
What's Next:
Worcester State (4-5-1,1-2) remains at home for their next match as they welcome Roger Williams University to Coughlin as part of the Lancer's four game home stretch in the mid season.