Cozzens Helps Guide Field Hockey To Win In Extra Frames

Framingham, MA --- Junior forward Sarah Cozzens (Lancaster, MA) scored the game winner 3:22 into overtime to lift the Worcester State University field hockey team to a 2-1 Little East Conference (LEC) win over the Framingham State Rams at Maple Street Field this morning. 

The Lancers, who have won four out of their last five, improve to 5-4 and 2-1 in the LEC while the loss drops the Rams under .500 at 3-4 overall and 1-2 in conference.        

The Rams outshot the Lancers 3-0 in the first half as neither team was able to generate many quality scoring chances.  Framingham State broke into the scoring column, taking a 1-0 lead, in the 23rd minute of play as senior forward Kristen Sacco (Mendon, MA), the Rams leading scorer this season, scored unassisted. 

The second half was a different story as the Lancers outshot the Rams 8-6 in the frame and were able to tie the game at 1-1 at 54:01.  Sophomore Ally Valencia (Foxboro, MA) found teammate Amanda Maillet (Saugus, MA) in the circle and Maillet found the back of the cage. 

The Rams had a chance to seal the win on a penalty corner with just over a minute to play in regulation, but Sacco's shot was knocked away by Worcester State goalie Kat Masterjohn (Warren, MA).

The Rams had the first scoring chance of the extra period but Masterjohn, who finished the game with eight saves, saved Sacco's offering and then recovered to make a diving save on Kelly German's (Sandwich, MA) attempt to score off the rebound.

Under a minute later, Valencia fired a shot on net for the Lancers and Framingham State goalie Allesha Kenyon (Westford, MA), who finished the game with six stops, made the save. 

The Lancers kept after the loose ball and were awarded a penalty corner. Senior Karla Rotondi (Tewksbury, MA) sent the corner to Samantha Janda (Sterling, MA) who found Cozzens in front of the cage for the game winner.

Junior Lauren Daley (Dedham, MA) finished with her team leading fifth defensive save, which tops for the LEC lead.

The Rams return to action on Wednesday at Plymouth State at 4 PM, while the Lancers host Southern Maine on Wednesday at 7 PM.

Release Courtesy of Framingham State Sports Information