Field Hockey Opens LEC Play with Triumph Over Framingham State

Worcester, MA --- Senior Sarah Cozzens (Lancaster, MA) and sophomore Lindsey McGeary (Foxboro, MA) each netted goals to help lead Worcester State to a 2-0 victory over Framingham State on the opening weekend of Little East Conference field hockey play this afternoon at Coughlin Field.

Cozzens helped put the Lancers (3-0, 1-0 LEC) up early at the 11:38 mark on an unassisted tally for her fourth marker of the season. Cozzens scored on a rebounded save from FSU third-year keeper Sarah Ryan (Uxbridge, MA), off of her own shot.

After the intermission, Worcester State struck again when McGeary notch her team-leading fifth goal of the year on a nice cross from the left of the cage to the right by senior Samantha Janda (Sterling, MA) with 39:09 on the clock.

The Blue and Gold would outshoot the visitors 12-0 in the opening frame and then go on to erupt for a 19-1 edge in shots during the course of the second half.

While Framingham State (1-2) did have their opportunities with four penalty corners in the contest, their best chance to score came on a shot by Kaitlyn Ranieri (Bellingham, MA) that went to the left of the net.

The Lancer back line had a phenomenal afternoon protecting the cage to make sure that junior keeper Rebecca Mullen (Peabody, MA) did not have any good looks at the net. In the victory, Mullen recorded her first career shutout for WSU.

Ryan was equally as effective as she collected a career-best 21 saves and kept the Rams within striking distance. Sophomore Brittany Goben (Fairhaven, MA) and classmate Kelli Timmins (Dedham, MA) also notched defensive saves for Framingham State.

Overall WSU led in shots (31-1) and corners (12-4).

Both teams will play non conference opponents on the road during the course of the next week. Worcester State heads to Anna Maria for a 7 PM matchup on Thursday while FSU will head to Daniel Webster on Tuesday for a 3:30 showdown.