Worcester State Edges Fitchburg State, 3-2

FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Worcester State field hockey team was in action this morning, as they took a 3-2 decision over the Falcons of Fitchburg State in Little East Conference field hockey action with Sterling Cup implications at Elliot Field.

Worcester State opened the scoring in the sixth minute of action as senior Krissy Kenney (Rehoboth, Mass.) put home a rebound of the stick of newcomer Ashley Malmberg (Clifton Park, N.Y.) for her third tally on the season for the 1-0 lead.

The Lancers doubled their margin (2-0) at the 28:27 mark when senior midfielder Julie O'Rourke (Worcester, Mass.) raced down the near side line and fired a shot inside the near post for her sixth tally on the season.

Fitchburg State cut the deficit to one roughly a minute and half later as sophomore forward Casey Noonan inserted the ball to junior Madeline Hoffman at the top of the circle, who rifled a shot into the back of the cage for her sixth goal of the season to make the score 2-1.

The visitors upped its lead at the 31:30 mark when O'Rourke gathered a feed from sophomore Hayley Sutherland (Tewksbury, Mass.) and deposited the ball into the right side of the net for her second tally of the contest for the 3-1 lead into the break.

Following the break, the Green and Gold found the back of the cage in the 60th minute of action as sophomore midfielder Bailey Miller fired a shot inside the near post for her first goal of the 2015 season but that's as close as the Falcons would get as Worcester State's defense stood strong over the remaining ten minutes, resulting in the 3-2 final.

Throughout the match, Worcester State held a 21-12 advantage in shots, while also holding a narrow 8-7 margin in penalty corners. In goal, the duo of senior Judith Valentin and freshman Brittany Linane combined to stop 11 shots for Fitchburg State, while sophomore Kathryn Salemme (Boxboro, Mass.) posted three saves for the Lancers in the complete game effort.

Fitchburg State (6-8, 1-7 LEC) will be back in action on Tuesday as it hosts the Colonials of Western Connecticut State at 7 p.m. Worcester State (9-5, 5-3 LEC) will travel to Framingham State on Tuesday for a contest starting at 7 p.m.  

Release Courtesy of Fitchburg State Sports Information

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