Worcester State Field Hockey Blanks Anna Maria, 7-0

PAXTON, Mass. – The Worcester State University Lancers Field Hockey team scored four first-half goals en route to a 7-0 non-conference victory over the Anna Maria Amcats on Thursday afternoon.

The win boosts the Lancers to 1-2 on the season, while the loss is the second-straight for Anna Maria, who falls to 2-3.

Down two starters, the AMCATS were put to the test early, as Worcester State's Hayley Sutherland (Tewksbury, Mass.) put the Lancers on the board just 56 seconds into the game. The Lancers continued to dominate the scoreboard as they scored four first half goals and added an additional three in the second half.

The Lancers strong defense kept Anna Maria out of the offensive zone – the AMCATS were not able to record a shot, or a penalty corner in the entire 70 minutes of action. Worcester State tallied 31 shots, 26 of them were-on-target, and 15 penalty corners on the day.

Following Sutherland's goal in the first minute, the Lancers saw goals from Taylor Ledwith (Springfield, Mass.) and Julie O'Rourke (Worcester, Mass.) for a quick 3-0 lead. After a scoring drought, Worcester State tacked on a fourth goal as Erika Lepkowski (Baldwinville, Mass.) redirected a shot by Krissy Kenney (Rehoboth, Mass.) for the fourth goal of the game.

The AMCATS held the Lancers scoreless for the first 11 minutes of the second half until Megan Ripke netted an unassisted goal. In the 54^th minute, Kenney scored a goal of her own, and then assisted on another Ledwith goal in the 59^th minute.

Anna Maria goaltender Mary Kate Breen (Londonderry, N.H.) earned the start and made seven first-half saves before giving way to Bryanna Tobin (Deep River, Conn.), who tallied eight saves in relief.

Worcester State's Alison Bieksha (Hubbardston, Mass.) earned the start for the Lancers and did not record a save. Kathryn Salemme (Boxboro, Mass.) played 29:44 of the second half and was also not forced to make a save before giving way to Jenna Jenkins (Westwood, Mass.).

This weekend the Worcester State Lancers will head to Keene State for their fourth game on the road before returning home on Sep. 16 where they will face WPI at John F. Coughlin Field for a game under the lights.

Release Courtesy of Anna Maria Sports Information