Chase Scores Career-High Goals in 16-13 Setback to Castleton

WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State University's senior attack, Kaila Chase (Northbridge, Mass.) scored a career-high eight goals and marked two assists in the Lancers' 16-13 loss to Castleton University Friday evening at John F. Coughlin Memorial Field.

Castleton's Brandi Whittemore (Middlebury, Vt.) also scored a career-high seven goals to go along with two assists. Whittemore's nine points and four ground balls led the Spartans (2-3). Grace Johnson (S. Burlington, Vt.) chipped in with three goals and three assists, while Brianna MacKay (Randolph, Vt.) added three goals and one assist in the win. Megan Els (Comack, NY) made 20 saves in her second win of the season and second straight game with 20 saves or more.

Worcester State is now 2-3 and was led by Chase and her classmate Jackie Connors (Ashland, Mass.) who scored a pair of goals and a pair of assists as well, while Worcester State's goalie Krissy Pessa (Wapole, Mass.), stopped 16 shots in goal.

Castleton got on the scoreboard first, when Chantel Wilkin took a pass from Maria Ploof (Middlebury, Vt.) and found the back of the net to make it 1-0 in favor of the Spartans. The Lancers answered with back-to-back goals of their own to take a 2-1 lead less than 10 minutes into the contest on goals from Katelyn Murphy (Billerica, Mass.) and Connors.. After trading goals to make it 3-2 in favor of the home team, Castleton rallied with five unanswered goals to round out the opening half, including two goals each from Whittemore and MacKay to send the Spartans into the break leading 7-3.

The Spartan offensive onslaught continued, as they scored four of the first five goals of the second half. With Castleton leading 12-5 with 18:31 to play, the Lancers found the back of the net five times unanswered to draw back within two goals at 12-10. Whittemore scored her final goal of the game to stop the Worcester State run, giving Castleton a 13-10 lead with 13:02 remaining.

The two teams traded goals for the remainder of the game, as the Spartans had an answer each time Worcester St. tried to make a comeback.

The Lancers travel to Santa Barbara, California tomorrow for their spring games, which start on Sunday (Mar. 20) against Meiji University.

Portions of this Release Courtesy of Castleton Sports Information