Adams Hat Trick Leads Lancers to Victory over Rams

Worcester, MA - The Worcester State Lancers traveled to Framingham to play the Rams in a rematch battle against another top 4 team in the MASCAC. This game is crucial for overall seeding and if the Lancers win the evenings match they would claim a piece of the regular season championship and a possible number one seed heading into the postseason. The penultimate game before homecoming looked to be a captivating match with high stakes for the Lancers. 

The opening minutes would be all Framingham as they quickly found their way into an early lead off when Emma Bailey tipped a pass from Ashley Malmquist to jump to a quick 1-0 lead. The Lancers would struggle to get a grip of the game in the opening quarter resulting in the ball remaining in the Rams possession for the majority of the opening five minutes of the match. The set plays of the Framingham State are some of the most precise in the MASCAC, they were able to utilize them well in their first match up with the Lancers earlier in the season. The Lancers would bounce back from the slow start and begin to assert themselves in the match. Senior Grace Adams (Leominster, MA) would find the back of the net three minutes after the Lancers conceded the opening goal. Adams worked her way in the open field of play with her athleticism and stellar stick skills to neutralize the Rams defense throughout the match. The rest of the first quarter would see momentum revert back to the Rams but junior Madison Ferrara (Somerset, MA) would keep a shutout the rest of the quarter, leaving the scoreline 1-1 heading into the two minute breather.

The second would start with the Lancers having spells of possession across the pitch for the Lancers. Two shots would come in the opening two minutes and the Lancers would looked to be carrying the momentum in the second. The Rams responded and answered back with four shots in four minutes and began a battle of possession that would rage through the quarter. The trio of junior Madison Avilla (Westport, MA), seniors Zoe Athanasopoulos (Hopedale, MA) and Adams, the triple A's of the Lancers attacking core, created chances to counteract Framingham's threats in the circle. Adams would eventually find the back of the net for the second time of the day to give the Lancers their first lead of the match. The final two minutes would see the Rams work to tie up the game but the Lancers defense pressure held strong to carry the 2-1 lead into the halftime break. 

The third period Athanasopoulos dominated the stat sheet with three shots on target and steady play throughout the early period. The Lancers down a player, for a portion of the third, did not skip a beat and would maintain the majority of the possession to limit the Rams player advantage. Two penalty corners were called for both teams before the next goal of the match. The scorer of the goal would be a familiar name and number as Grace Adams secured her hatrick to give the Lancers a 3-1 lead. 

The fourth and final quarter would see both teams recording numerous shots and having a tight game for the final 15 minutes. The Lancers would concede a second goal with only 5 minutes left to go in the match making the scoreline 3-2. Both teams worked to out maneuver each other to come away with the victory, with the Lancers outlasting any Rams comeback bid hold one for their eight conference win with a final score of 3-2.

The Lancers (10-6, 8-1)  have secured a top 2 seed in the postseason with the victory. They can clinch sole possession of the regular season pennant with a homecoming win on the team senior day when they host Salem State at 12pm.