No. 4 Worcester State Tops No. 5 Fitchburg State in MASCAC Quarterfinal; Lancers Advance to Semifinal

WORCESTER, Mass. – After holding just a one-goal advantage at the half, the No. 4 seeded Lancers of Worcester State held the No. 5 seeded to just one goal in the second half to and scored four of their own to earn an 8-4 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) quarterfinal win over Fitchburg State on Tuesday evening.

THE BASICS

May 1, 2018

Coughlin Field

Score: Worcester State 8, Fitchburg State 4

Records: Worcester State (11-7) | Fitchburg State (8-9)

1^ST HALF

Fitchburg State scored the first marker two and a half minutes in on a goal from Jaimee Lutz (Foxborough, Mass.), assisted by Rebecca Fisher (Dracut, Mass.). Worcester State knotted the score at 1-1 five minutes later on a free positon tally from Kaylee Krajewski (Holyoke, Mass.). The Lancers scored two more consecutive goals on shots Abby Magnuson (Ellington, Conn.) and Alexis Vecchiarelli (Agawam, Mass.) to the 3-1 lead with seven minutes to go in the first. With 36 seconds to go, Tracy Long (Georgetown, Mass.) posted an unassisted goal for Fitchburg State but Vecchiarelli added one of her own with 24 seconds on the clock to set the Falcons' lead back to two. With five seconds on the clock, Fitchburg State converted a free position from Anna Gagnon-Burch (Putney, Vt.) to head into the half with a 4-3 score, in favor of Worcester.

2^ND HALF

Worcester State shutout the visiting Falcons in the first 23 minutes of play while the Lancers pulled away to an 8-3 lead on goals from Rachel Hopkins (Chelmsford, Mass.), Mackenzie Little (Marlborough, Mass.), Coley Hayes (Norwood, Mass.), and Vecchiarelli. Fitchburg State finally found the back of the net with 6:32 on the clock when Carrie Long (Foxborough, Mass.) made a free position shot for the 8-4 score.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Vecchiarelli was the game-leader in goals and assists with three goals and two assists. She also picked up a ground ball.
• Worcester State's remaining six goals were scattered amongst six players.
• Hayes led the Lancers with a game-high six ground balls, while Little was the team-leader in draws with four. Whitney Bailey (Fitchburg, Mass.) caused five turnovers.
• Fitchburg State's four goals were scored by four different players.
• Lutz, Long, and Nicole Lee (Quincy, Mass.) each had five round balls, and Long led the team in draws (5) and was the game-leader in caused turnovers (7).  
• Worcester State held a 29-14 shot advantage (15-4 in the second half alone).
• Worcester State's goalie, Chloe O'Brien (Sturbridge, Mass.) stopped 6-of-10 shots on net for the win.
• Fitchburg State's Marguerite Belcher (Quincy, Mass.) was tabbed the loss in a 10-save performance.
• The Lancers won 9-of-14 draws and held a 36-35 edge in ground balls.
• Each team registered two free position shots on the night.  

UP NEXT

The Worcester State women's lacrosse team advances to the MASCAC semifinal game, which is scheduled for Thursday (May 3) at the top seeded Westfield State. Game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.

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