Lancers Advance to MASCAC Semifinals after 16-13 Win Over Framingham State

WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State University's Mackenzie Little (Marlboro, Mass.) and Jackie Connors (Ashland, Mass.) put a combined 10 points on the scoreboard to assist in the Lancers' 16-13 win over the No. 5 seeded Framingham State in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) quarterfinals on Tuesday (May 3) at John. F. Coughlin Filed.

Worcester State's Little put the Lancers on the scoreboard first with a free position shot just two minutes into the game. Connors followed with an unassisted goal to give the Lancers a two-point gain.

Framingham State's Morghan Cassella (Lowell, Mass.) was the first to score for the Rams when she cut the Blue and Gold's lead in half with 21:12 remaining in the half. Worcester State then responded with three unanswered goals to give the Lancers a fuller advantage.

The Lancers and Rams went back-to-back with goals to keep the gap at three, though the Rams ended the half with two goals of their own when Kimberly Foley (Mansfield, Mass.) netted one and then Claryssa Cunnif (Framingham, Mass.) snuck another past Worcester's goaltender.

Worcester State started the scoring in the second half when Little scored her third goal of the game. Moments later Framingham State tied the game up for the first time when Shae Riley (Fairhaven, Mass.) and Kristen Hoggins (Harvard, Mass.) fired two successive into the net. The teams went one-on-one to keep the score tied, but Worcester never allotted Framingham to take the lead.

With 17 minutes remaining in the game, Worcester State went on a 5-0 run to put the game in their hands. From then on, Framingham State was not able to come within less than three throughout the remainder of the game.

Little totaled six goals and one assist, while Connors tallied four goals and three assists. Alexis Vecchiarelli (Agawam, Mass.) and Amanda Pruyn (Tyngsboro, Mass.) each added two goals while Kaila Chase (Northbridge, Mass.) and Alaina Martin (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) chipped in one apiece.

Leading the Rams was Casella with five points (four goals and one assist) and Foley with four of her own. Fredericks logged two goals while Riley, Cunnif, and Hoggins each marked one goal.

Worcester State's Krissy Pessa (Wapole, Mass.) earned her ninth win of the season in a seven save performance, while Indigo Fox Tree-McGrath (Bedford, Mass.) suffered the loss in a 15 save game.

The Lancers will move onto the MASCAC semifinals on Thursday (May 5) when they will travel to the No. 1 seeded, Westfield State.