Valencia Clutch As Field Hockey Defeats Elms In Opener, 2-1

Chicopee, MA --- Senior Ally Valencia (Foxboro, MA) tallied both goals - including the game winner with just 20 seconds remaining in the contest on a penalty corner - as she helped lift Worcester State to a thrilling 2-1 triumph over Elms in non-conference field hockey action at Leary Field this afternoon.

With the loss, the Blazers fall to 0-1 overall while the Lancers starts off their 2012 campaign at 1-0.

Valencia put Worcester State on top in the first half, netting her first goal just nine minutes into the contest when she took a touch pass from sophomore Katelyn Abber (Dedham, MA) from 12 yards out and blasted the ball into the back of the net to give the Lancers an early advantage.

Second-year Tatiana Frizzell (Brattleboro, VT) knotted the game at 1-1 at the 26:30 mark when she picked up the rebound of a shot fired on target by sophomore Meghan Goodrow (Sunderland, MA) and found the cage following the ensuing scrum in front of the net to give the Blazers their first strike of the 2012 season.

The sides then played back and forth field hockey in the second half, with neither team finding the go-ahead score until late in the period. With 20 ticks on the clock, Worcester State earned its sixth penalty corner of the stanza and took advantage, as sophomore Katherine Bitters (Greenfield, MA) and junior Lindsey McGeary (Foxboro, MA) each assisted on Valencia's game-winning goal.

Senior goalkeeper Rebecca Mullen (Peabody, MA) turned away three of the four shots she faced to earn the win for the Lancers, while Blazers' senior goalkeeper Alexandra Bonavita (Agawam, MA) suffered the loss despite saving nine of 11 shots on goal.

With her dish the deciding tally, McGeary moves closer to the 25-point club as she now has 10 goals and two assists for 22 career points.

Elms returns to non-league action on Wednesday when it hosts Western Connecticut State University at 7:00 PM at Leary Field while the Lancers take the week off before they open LEC play with Framingham State next Saturday at 1.