Women's Lacrosse Bests Framingham State, Moves Onto MASCAC Semifinals

Worcester, MA --- Junior Kaila Chase (Northbridge, MA) potted a game-best five goals with one assist and five ground balls to help propel fourth-seeded Worcester State past #5 Framingham State, 16-5, in the quarterfinals of the MASCAC Women's Lacrosse Tournament this evening at Coughlin Field.

The Lancers (13-5), who tied their program record for wins in a season, move on to play top-seeded Westfield State on Thursday in a 7 PM meeting. The Rams end their year at 9-8 overall.

Junior Jackie Connors (Ashland, MA) two goals, five draws and a pair of caused turnovers while senior Jackie Lawlor (Westford, MA) forced a trio of turnovers and she picked up five ground balls. Senior Angela Grassetti (Feeding Hills, MA) also collected four points on two goals and a pair of assists.

For Framingham State, senior Zoe Reilly (Boyertown, PA) and junior Stephanie Leonard (Framingham, MA) both deposited two goals each as the pair combined for seven of their squads 10 draws.

Sophomore Lindsay Nixon (Woburn, MA) and classmate Tori Lane (W. Newbury, MA) each registered three ground balls apiece.

After Reilly and Leonard went back-to-back put the Rams up by two just three minutes into the game, Chase and senior Molly Kilday (Westford, MA) came right back with markers of their own to tie the game up 2-2 at the 24:54 mark.

Leonard notched her second of the contest moments later, but then the hosts used a furious 6-0 run to go ahead 8-3 with 8:02 remaining in the opening frame. Grassetti and sophomore Alaina Martin (E. Longmeadow, MA) both had one goal and an assist in the spurt.

Freshman Morghan Cassella (Lowell, MA) sliced the deficit in half to respond, but the Lancers netted two of the last three goals to open up a 10-5 lead at the intermission.

Worcester State's back line was outstanding in the second stanza as they held the Rams scoreless in the final 30 minutes of regulation. The Lancers outscored their opponents 6-0 and put the game into running time with 9:39 left.

Sophomore Lea Robichaud (Holden, MA) was also a stalwart between the pipes as she stopped all six shots she saw on net in the final period, before giving way to classmate Krissy Pessa (Walpole, MA) who made one save in the last minute of the contest.

Robichaud (13-5) tied her own record for goalie wins in a single season while she finished with nine saves overall. Framingham State junior Alysha Cericola (Waltham, MA) rejected 15 shots and she had four ground balls, defensively.

The Lancers led in shots on goal (31-15), draws (13-10), ground balls (33-24) and were effective on clears (12-for-17 – 9-for-10 in second half).

For the third straight year, Worcester State tied their own program standard for wins in a season, accomplishing the feat in 2013 and again this past year.

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