Lancers Take Charge in Victory over Vikings

Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Lancers traveled to Salem State this afternoon in a MASCAC battle with important postseason seeing ramifications. The Lancers are coming off a week of non-action after defeating Framingham State Rams last Saturday 4-0.

The Lancers started the match aggressively taking into the Vikings box continually earning a number of corner kicks in the opening 10 minutes of action. Even with the initial onslaught, the Lancers were not able to quickly get on the board and double down on their focus across the pitch. The Vikings capitalize on the rest about 15 minutes into the match with a solid attempt by Savannah Scrodin, but the Worcester defense showed their mettle and knocked their attempt away and quickly turned it around with a deep launch from first year Emma Jacob (Billerica, MA) who shot a beautiful ball from far right of the box into the top corner for her first collegiate goal to put the Lancers up 1-0. Worcester nearly doubled the lead shortly thereafter when sophomore Erin Condon (East Bridgewater, MA) released a shot that looked to be heading in over the goalkeeper's head, but the cross bar prevented Condon's attempt. Worcester managed to snag their second goal in the 25' minute when junior Maddie Breuer (Hubbardston, MA) scored off a crisp placement by first year Ava Lemanski (Clinton, MA). The score would hold for the remainder of the half and see Worcester carry a 2-0 lead into the half time break. 

After a goalkeeper swap for Salem State, Worcester was ready to find some open spots on a fresh goalkeeper. Five minutes into the new half Worcester had already begun to crack the code, scoring goal number three, this time with Lemanski leading the way and Condon looking for redemption from her earlier near goal miss. Condon sent a ball over the top which Lemanski ran onto to score the third goal of the game and her sixth goal of the season. The Lancers did not stop there, and first year center midfielder Olivia Magierowski (Brimfield, MA) assisted Condon's header goal in the 57th minute. Worcester State continued to break down the defense with through balls on the ground and stepped to the ball to win the 50/50's in the air. On a breakaway, Salem's Savannah Scrodin (Mount Abraham, VT) scored from the left side of the box, assisted by Sydney Durkin (Dracut, MA). Just a minute later Lancer junior Michaela O'Brien (Bedford, MA) retaliated with a perfect shot that fell right under the crossbar into the net. First year Riley O'Hearn (Methuen, MA) had several shots as the clock wound down and senior Hayley MacNeil (Lancaster, MA) took a shot that Salem keeper Ava Guyer (East Granby, CT) just punched over the net. The game concluded in a 5-1 victory for the Lancers, giving them the third place seat in the conference. 

Sophomore Mallory Dupuis (Leominster, MA) concluded the game with four saves in the match.   

The Lancers improved their record to (4-7-2, 4-2) while the Vikings slipped to 4-9-2, 3-3.  Worcester State returns to action October 24th when they travel for an out-of-conference matchup with UMass-Dartmouth, pass back is set for 7pm, before hosting Mass Maritime on Friday in the regular season schedule which will also serve as Senior Night for the team.