Lancers Open Season with 19-16 Win over Gordon College

WENHAM, Mass.— Seven different players notched at least a hat-trick as Worcester State earned its first win of the season, defeating the Gordon College Fighting Scots 19-16 at the Brigham Athletic Complex Thursday afternoon.

The Fighting Scots drop to 0-2 on the season with both losses coming at home to start the year. Worcester State looks the part of a MASCAC contender with the high-scoring start in its season opener.

Gordon controlled the game over the first 10 minutes, racing out to a 3-1 lead during that span. Jessica Castelline (Concord, Mass.) scored twice in the first five minutes, including a free-position strike in the game's third minute. Worcester State made it a 2-1 game with a game from Mackenzie Little (Marlboro, Mass.), but Olivia McCarrick (Millersville, Md.) put the Scots back up by two just a few moments later.

A timeout seemed to settle the Lancers as they scored three times in less than a minute to take their first advantage of the contest. Little added her second of the game, while Amanda Pruyn (Tyngsboro, Mass.) and Alaina Martin (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) both struck for scores.

Castelline completed a hat-trick directly off the following draw control, but the Lancers controlled the game for the rest of the half. Worcester State put together another three-goal run and a 5-1 run in total to take a commanding 9-5 advantage approaching the final minutes of the first half.

Bailey Grinnell (S. Hamilton, Mass.) briefly cut into the deficit, but Worcester State's Jackie Connors (Ashland, Mass.) scored in the final minute of the period to give the Lancers a 10-6 lead at the half.

Gordon came out of the break with a mean streak on offense, scoring seven goals in the first 10 minutes after a relatively quiet end to the first period. Grinnell, Castelline and McCarrick led the charge for the Scots.

However, Worcester State was able to throw in a goal here and there to keep Gordon from tying the game at all in the second half. The Fighting Scots temporarily closed the gap to one at 14-13, but that would be as close as the two teams would be for the rest of regulation.

Gordon's offense went scoreless for 15 minutes as Worcester State effectively controlled the clock and added to its lead. A five-goal run during those 15 minutes put the Fighting Scots in a deep hole from which they would not be able to fully recover.

The Scots scored three goals over the final five minutes while shutting out the Lancers, but the comeback bid fell short.

Connors led the Lancers with five goals, while also adding another three assists to her name. She also led Worcester State's explosive draw control unit and came up with six of the Lancers' 27 wins in that category.  Little and Martin both scored four goals apiece and combined for three assists.  Kaila Chase (Northbrigde, Mass.) also had a three-goal game for Worcester State.

15 of Gordon's 16 goals came from one of the big three goal scorers: Castelline, Grinnell or McCarrick. Caroline Walton (Irvine, Calif.) added the other score for the Fighting Scots.

A major difference in the game was Worcester State holding a large 27-11 advantage in draw controls, as Worcester State's Katelyn Murphy (Billerica, Mass.) had a game-high seven on the afternoon.

Worcester State's goaltender, Krissy Pessa (Walpole, Mass.), registered four saves to get the decision, while Gordon's Jackie Kiernan (Lexington, Mass.) made eight saves in the loss.

The Lancers return to action on Saturday (Mar. 5), hosting Eastern Connecticut State University for a 1:00 p.m. matchup.

Release Courtesy of Gordon College Sports Information