Second-Half Goals Help Women's Soccer Defeat Western Connecticut, 2-1

Worcester, MA --- A pair of second-half tallies by sophomore Gaby Gonet (Agawam, MA) and freshman Sarina Lathrop (Hopedale, MA) gave Worcester State the 2-1 victory over Western Connecticut State in non-conference women's soccer action tonight at Coughlin Field.

WSU has won seven out of their last eight games and is now 7-3-1 on the campaign while the Colonials fall to 6-4. The Blue and Gold have defeated Western Connecticut for the first time in team history as they had been 0-5 since a regular season setback during the 2007 season.

After 72 minutes of back-and-forth action between the two squads, Worcester State broke the scoreless tie when Gonet scored her first goal of the year off a pass by senior Sarah Rafferty (Uxbridge, MA) on a breakaway shot. 

Lathrop added a key insurance goal four minutes later when she received a cross by freshman Alyssa Sawyer (W. Springfield, MA) and fired a shot that went off the keeper and into the top right corner of the goal.  The eventual game-winning marker was Lathrop's first collegiate score.

With their backs against the wall, the Colonials battled and cut the lead to one when in the 83rd minute senior Jillian Duran (Uncasville, CT) received a flick close to the box from classmate Lauren Francisco (Ludlow, MT) as she headed it in for her fourth goal of the season.

Senior net-minder Angiezaka Sychtysz (Warren, MA) turned aside two shots for the Blue and Gold while Western Connecticut goalkeeper Caitlin Avery (East Hampton, CT) made four stops.

The Colonials held the 14-9 advantage in shots and a 6-1 hold on corners.

Both teams will play conference games this Saturday.  Worcester State will take on MASCAC rival Westfield State at home at 2 o'clock, while Western Connecticut State will travel to Little East foe Rhode Island College, for a 1 PM tilt.

Release by Jim Sarkisian – Sports Information Intern