O'Rourke, Lepkowski Lead Field Hockey In Thrilling 2-1 Victory Over UMass Dartmouth

N. Dartmouth, MA --- Junior Julie O'Rourke (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) blasted home the game-winning goal on a penalty corner with no time left as she helped lift Worcester State to a 2-1 win over UMass Dartmouth in Little East Conference field hockey action this evening at Cressey Field.

With the victory, the Lancers (7-3, 3-1 LEC) earn their fifth straight triumph while the Corsairs fall to 4-7 overall and 2-2 in the Little East. WSU is now shares second place in the LEC standings with four other squads and the win marked their first over UMass Dartmouth since 2006.

As 1-1 read on the scoreboard in the far left corner of the end-zone, the two squads appeared headed for overtime, but UMD was whistled for an infraction with less than 30 ticks on the clock.

Following the insertion on the left side of the cage by junior Erika Lepkowski (Baldwinville, MA), senior Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA) gathered the loose ball, which was nearly tipped away by a Corsair defender, and she dished it to O'Rourke who drilled her team-best eighth of the campaign to the right corner of the net.

The contest was scoreless at the intermission as sophomore Meghan Pini (Natick, MA) had a pair of tries early on for the Blue and Gold - including a pass she couldn't handle from freshman Hayley Sutherland (Tewksbury, MA) at the 16:30 mark.

To start off the second stanza, Lepkowski gave Worcester State a lift as she put the visitors up 1-0 less than 10 minutes into the frame with her fourth of the year, striking a pass from the right baseline by senior Katelyn Abber (Dedham, MA) to the left corner.

Around the 50 minute mark, junior Ali Ladue (Bridgewater, MA) nearly scored the equalizer for UMass Dartmouth, but her high tip was swatted away by junior Megan Ripke (Southwick, MA), who moved into a tie for the LEC lead in defensive saves with three.

Persistence for the Corsairs though paid off as they tied up the game four minutes later on a tip in by junior Jill Leverault (Somerset, MA), who had some help on the play by sophomore Katelyn Morrissey (Taunton, MA), who dished it to her on the left edge of the net. Leverault potted her eighth of the year for UMD.

UMass Dartmouth almost took the lead at 61:25 when junior Erin Anderson (Medway, MA) nearly tipped in a long pass from the top of the circle, however, her attempt went to the left of the post.

Worcester State then went back on the offensive as they held the Corsairs without a shot in the final eight minutes of the frame to set the stage for O'Rourke's late game heroics.

It was as even a contest in the shots department (11-11), but the Lancers had the 7-3 margin in shots on goal. UMD led in corners, 9-3, and 5-1 in the second stanza alone.

Freshman Kathryn Salemme (Boxboro, MA) stopped her only shot between the pipes to pick up the victory as sophomore Liz St. Germaine (Wareham, MA) turned aside five for UMass Dartmouth.

O'Rourke moved into 11th on WSU's all-time scoring list, just one away from the top 10 as she now has 21 goals in her career. McPherson is tied with Kara Walker (2004-07) for 15th (17 goals - 15 assists) with 50 points.

Both squads return to Little East play on Saturday. Worcester State hosts Bridgewater State at 11 AM while the Corsairs make the trek to Salem State in a noon time affair.

Photo Above Courtesy of UMass Dartmouth Sports Information

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