Field Hockey Upends Cross-Town Rival Clark

WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University field hockey team used a pair of second half goals on Thursday evening to defeat Clark University 2-0 in non-conference action at Coughlin Field.

With the win, the Lancers improve to 12-6 on the season, while the Cougars fall to 7-10.

The Lancers controlled the play in the game's opening 35 minutes, but strong goalkeeping from Clark senior Dani Michaud (Providence, R.I.) kept the contest scoreless headed into the break. Michaud recorded six saves in the first half as the Lancers outshot the Cougars 10-0.

Seven minutes into the second half, Worcester State finally broke the ice on the 14th goal of the season by junior co-captain Olivia Antonelli (Westford, Mass.). Off a Jessica Wilding (Somerset, Mass.) penalty corner, Sarah Duff (Warren, Mass.) found Antonelli open on the left wing. Antonelli took a shot that ricocheted off a Clark defender and past Michaud to put the Lancers in front 1-0 in the 43rd minute.

Freshman Lexie Panagiotopoulos (Lowell, Mass.) tallied her first collegiate goal in the 57th minute to double the Lancer lead to 2-0. After receiving a perfect cross from sophomore Lauren Fleming (Leominster, Mass.), Panagiotopoulos fired a spinning shot toward the cage that froze Michaud and found the back of the net. 

It appeared the Cougars were on the brink of getting one back in the 63rd minute, but a pair of huge saves from freshman goalkeeper Jess Hopkins (Chelmsford, Mass.) on Clark's Olivia Barksdale (Fort Washington, Md.) helped preserve the shutout, as the Lancers held on for the 2-0 victory.

Hopkins got the win in goal, making two saves on the evening, while the loss went to Michaud, despite a stellar 11-save effort.

Next up for the Lancers, they will close out their regular season with Senior Day on Saturday at noon against Plymouth State. The Cougars travel to Smith to round out their season the same day.

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