Field Hockey Falls to Cross-Town Rival WPI, 3-1

Worcester, MA --- Senior Danielle Antonellis (Duxbury, MA) along with freshman teammates Mary-Lee Barboza (Rochester, MA) and Libbi Richardson (Uxbridge, MA) all registered first-half tallies for WPI as they defeated Worcester State, 3-1, in non-conference play this evening at Coughlin Field.

After a back and forth 10 minutes of play, WPI (7-1) was able to break the stalemate when Richardson netted her team-leading fifth goal of the season on a pass by senior Celena Dopart (Washington, DC) at the 14:01 mark.

Antonellis tacked on the second goal five minutes later on a cross from the left by senior Paige Hanson (East Hartford, CT). Barboza would complete the rally with 5:53 remaining in the opening frame when she potted her first marker of the year off of a deflected save.

The Lancers (4-2) came out aggressive in the second half as senior Sarah Cozzens (Lancaster, MA) scored on a breakaway when she took a feed from classmate Samantha Janda (Sterling, MA).

WSU had a golden opportunity to threaten as the Engineers played a man down late in the second half, but it was the offense of the Crimson and Gray that kept the ball on the other side of the 50-yard line to help hold the Lancers to just one shot during the five minute penalty.

Sophomore goalkeeper Liz Dufresne (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) stopped four shots for the Boynton Hillers in the triumph while junior net-minder Rebecca Mullen (Peabody, MA) made six saves in the setback.

The Crimson and Gray outshot Worcester State, 15-9, while the Lancers held the edge in penalty corners, 8-6.

Both schools will travel for non-conference tilts this week. Worcester State takes a trip down Route 9 to play local rival Becker at 4 PM on Thursday, while WPI plays at Nichols next Wednesday at 7.

Release by Jim Sarkisian – Sports Information Intern