WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University women's lacrosse team erased a two-goal deficit in the final 12 minutes of play to defeat Smith College 7-6 in non-conference action Wednesday evening at John F. Coughlin Field.
With the win, Worcester State jumps to 2-1 on the season, while Smith suffers its first loss, falling to 5-1.
SMITH HIGHLIGHTS
- Senior Emily Biggs (Florence, Mass./Northampton) and junior Maddie Ryan (Scituate, Mass./Scituate) tallied two goals apiece.
- Sophomore Shannon McGinnis (Levittown, Pa./The George School) collected seven ground balls.
- First year goalkeeper Alyssa Schams (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon) finished with eight saves.
WORCESTER ST. HIGHLIGHTS
- Kelly Austin led the offensive effort for the Lancers, finishing with three goals.
- Coley Hayes collected seven ground balls.
- Chloe O'Brien registered eight saves in the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Neither team found the back of the net until nearly 11 minutes in, when Smith junior Maddie Ryan (Scituate, Mass./Scituate) broke the ice with her seventh goal of the season. It would prove to be the only Pioneer tally in the opening 30 minutes, as Worcester State goalkeeper Chloe O'Brien was stellar in the first half, where she made six of her eight saves on the night.
The Lancers responded to Ryan's opening tally by closing the half on a 4-0 run to take a 4-1 lead into halftime. Junior Kelly Austin got the hosts on the board just 46 seconds after Smith took the lead, and Rachel Hopkins, Ann Maher, and Kylie Hill all also found the back of the net in the half to give Worcester State its intermission advantage.
The Pioneers went on a run of their own to open up the second half to take a two-goal lead. After senior Clelie Fielding (Francestown, N.H./High Mowing) scored just 27 seconds into the half, Smith was off and running, scoring five straight goals, capped by a tally by Emily Biggs (Florence, Mass./Northampton) (Florence, Mass.), which put the visitors up 6-4 with 17:01 remaining.
Austin scored on the man down with 11:06 remaining to start Worcester State's rally, and less than two minutes later, freshman Madison Brennan (Pomfret, Conn.) evened the score by potting her sixth goal of the season. Austin completed the hat trick - and Worcester's comeback - on a free position goal with 5:23 remaining.
With exactly a minute to play, O'Brien made a huge save on a shot from first year Reese Gittelman (Ocean City, Md./Worcester Preparatory). The Lancers wouldn't give possession back to the Pioneers for the remainder of the game as Worcester State ran out the clock and won their second straight contest.
UP NEXT
Smith begins New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play with a 1:00 p.m. meeting at Coast Guard.
(Recap courtesy to Worcester State Athletics)
