Conway's Opening Night Hat Trick Pushed Lancers Past Bison

Worcester, MA - The Lancers kicked off their second season in franchise history on the road against the Bison of Nichols College Friday evening. 

FINAL SCORE: 5 Worcester, 4 Nichols- Overtime

The Lancers got on the board just shy of three minutes into the game when Cameron Payne found the back of the net with a well placed pass from sophomore Kierston Erickson (Broomfield, Co) and first year Caroline Gates (Natick, MA). Worcester controlled the pace of play through much of the first period, and found the net for a second time with under two minutes to play, as graduate student Clare Conway (Billerica, MA) struck for her first of the night to give the visitors a 2-0 cushion at the first intermission.

Worcester State converted for a third-straight time early in the second period, as sophomore Emily Pavoni (Granby, MA) pushed one past the Bison netminder to make it 3-0 in the second. The Bison were finally able to cut the lead to two in the middle of the second but Conway was able to add her second tally of the night with under two minutes into the third period to put the Lancers back up by three. 

Nichols refused to go down without a fight though in the third a quickly brought themselves within one as the final moments of the third clicked down. In the final seconds of the third period the Bison managed to tie up the season opener  after pulling their goalkeeper for the women advantage and forced overtime play. 

In the opening seconds of overtime, graduate Kylian Kelly (Shrewsbury, MA) found Conway on a breakaway who ensured this game was wrapped up quickly, completing her hat trick to secure the 5-4 victory for the Lancers. 

The Blue & Gold, who are now 1-0 on the season, will continue their three game road trip against Plymouth State tomorrow, October 29th, followed by a meeting with Castleton on November 4th. Puck drop for their showdown with Plymouth is set for 4pm. 

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