Women's Lacrosse Upsets Curry, 11-10, To Advance To ECAC Tournament Semifinals

Milton, MA --- Worcester State sophomore Molly Kilday (Westford, MA) registered a game-best five goals while freshman Jackie Connors (Ashland, MA) notched five assists as they both helped lead fifth-seeded Worcester State to a 11-10 upset over #4 Curry in the Quarterfinals of the ECAC Division III New England Women's Lacrosse Tournament this evening at Walter M. Katz Field.

With the win the Lancers, who improve to 13-5 overall and reset the previous program standard for wins in one campaign. They move on to the ECAC Semifinal round on Saturday to play top-seeded Western New England at 4 PM. It marks the third time that the Blue and Gold have earned an appearance in the second round with trips in 2006 and 07.

The Colonels, who earned their sixth ECAC bid, see their fine season come to a close at 14-6. They were led offensively by senior Ana Bottary (Hull, MA) who finished with team-highs of four tallies and two assists.

Junior classmates Haley Carey (N. Milford, CT) and Deanna Montfredo (W. Islip, NY) along with freshman Emma Bolton (Saddle River, NJ) also chipped in with two markers each for the hosts.

Bottary and junior Mel Brickley (Chelmsford, MA) combined for six draws while junior Kaitlin Cloutier (Montpelier, VT) had three ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers.

Third-year Vicki O'Brien (Canton, MA) added two goals and freshman Kalia Chase (Northbridge, MA) moved one step closer to the 50 point club as she is now just three points away with one goal and a pair of dishes.

Connors had a contest-best four draws and sophomore Sam Erwin (Attleboro, MA) paced the defensive effort with six ground balls and a pair of forced miscues.

Curry opened the contest with the 4-2 edge over the first 21 minutes of the game.

Bottary had a hand in every goal as she helped start the run with an assist on Monfredo's goal at the 21:39 mark, scored the next two unassisted and then she finished things off with a helper to Carey with 9:12 remaining in the opening frame.

But the Lancers rattled off the next three goals to take a 5-4 advantage going into the intermission. O'Brien had some help from Connors before Kilday potted a pair to end the stanza.

The second period proved to be an exciting one as neither team led by more than two the rest of the way.

After Bolton sandwiched a pair of goals five minutes in between one by Erwin. Chase and Kilday both tallied to put the visitors up 8-6 with 19:56 remaining.

Curry responded when Bottary found the back of the net twice to help the Colonels go on a mini 3-1 surge as they equalized the game 9-9 with 11:25 left in regulation.

But the Lancers decisively won each of the next two draws to help give Worcester State great starting position. O'Brien and sophomore Jaclyn Lawlor (Westford, MA) both scored to help put the Blue and Gold on top 11-9 with 3:46 on the clock.

WSU stalled to keep things moving, but Curry forced a miscue with 12 seconds remaining and Cloutier rifled a long pass by the net down to Monfredo to help make the contest a one-score game. But Connors sealed things up by winning the contests final draw.

Senior Alex Chisholm (N. Brookfield, MA) was outstanding as she came up with some key saves for the Lancers and she turned aside ten of the 20 shots she saw on net. Sophomore Christina Wallis (Peabody, MA) recorded five stops in the setback for the Colonels.

Curry held the slim lead in shots (25-23), finished 4-for-8 on free position shots and two markers came with a man down. Worcester State controlled the draw (13-10) and had the 21-15 advantage in ground balls.