O'Rourke, Ripke Help Pace Field Hockey To Win Over Eastern Connecticut

Little East Field Hockey Tournament Bracket

Worcester, MA --- Sophomore Julie O'Rourke (Worcester, MA) registered a goal and an assist to help propel Worcester State past Eastern Connecticut State, 2-0, this afternoon in Little East field hockey action at Coughlin Field.

With the win the Lancers run their record to 11-7 overall and 4-7 in conference play while solidifying themselves a playoff berth in the upcoming LEC tournament. They will take on #1 Keene State in a 6 o'clock matchup in the quarterfinals on Tuesday as the eighth seed.

In the setback, the Warriors see their season come to an end at 8-11 and 4-7 in league play.

After a stagnant first half of play with neither team gaining an advantage Worcester State jumped out to a 2-0 lead midway through the second stanza.

Sophomore Erika Lepkowski (Baldwinville, MA) dished out a pass from the top of the circle to just inside the left side where O'Rourke smoked a shot through defenders and into the back of the cage at the 51:25 mark for the 1-0 edge.

Freshman Katelyn Carmody (Shelburne Falls, MA) provided the Lancers with a two-goal margin when she redirected an O'Rourke blast off a penalty corner past the ECSU net minder at the 57:37 mark.

Eastern Connecticut had their chances to get on the board in the final ten minutes, however, were unable to capitalize off two crucial penalty corners.

Sophomore Hannah Keiser (Danbury, CT) fired a missile off a penalty corner at the 61:56 mark, but was shut down by second-year Megan Ripke (Southwick, MA) who stopped the ball in its tracks for the defensive save to preserve the lead.

Then just 90 ticks later sophomore Laura Chicorka (Enfield, CT) was turned aside by WSU senior net-minder Allison Romano (E. Bridgewater, MA) on her attempt off a penalty corner keeping the Lancers up by two.

Romano again thwarted a Warrior attack in the waning moments when she stopped a Keiser offering at the 67:28 mark to secure the victory. The senior stopped all three shots she faced to earn her sixth shutout of the season.

Eastern Connecticut first-year keeper Samantha Scavo (Redding, MA) registered six saves in the setback.

The Blue and Gold held the 12-9 advantage in shots while ECSU had the slim 6-5 edge in penalty corners.

Before the game, Romano and fellow seniors Amanda Turnbull (Leicester, MA) and Katherine Bitters (Greenfield, MA) were recognized in a brief "Senior Day" ceremony for playing in their final home game.

Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant

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