Worcester State Spoils Season Opener for Rhode Island College

Providence, R.I. - The Worcester State University Lancers women's soccer team defeated the Rhode Island College Anchorwomen 5-1 Saturday afternoon at the RIC Soccer field, spoiling the Anchorwomen's season opener.

The Lancers (1-1) got on the board in the fifth minute when freshman midfielder Tsara LeBlanc (Gardner, Mass.) took a feed up the right side from senior midfielder Kiley Hardy (Pepperell, Mass.) and ripped a shot past the far post to take an early 1-0 lead. The Lancers kept the pressure on, doubling their lead in the 22nd minute when freshman midfielder Nikki DiPilla (Sterling, Mass.) corralled a rebound off the crossbar and slipped it home for the 2-0 advantage.



The Lancers struck again at the 30-minute mark when junior forward Kendal Bergenholtz (Grafton, Mass.) capitalized on a RIC (0-2) turnover and found the back of the net to give Worcester State a 3-0 advantage. The Lancers held a 21-4 advantage in shots in the stanza and a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks over the first 45 minutes.



After a scoreless 18 minutes to start the second frame, the Anchorwomen cut the deficit to two in the 72nd minute when freshman midfielder Allison Fotheringhame (North Providence, R.I.) slid a pass to Greenman who found the back of the net from just inside the 18-yard box.



Worcester State would respond four minutes later, however, when sophomore defender Justine Butler (Marlboro, Mass.) snapped a header into the net off a corner by senior forward Alicia Macomber (Stoughton, Mass.) to make the score 4-1. The Lancers would tack on an insurance goal in the 89th minute when LeBlanc forced a turnover just inside RIC's 18-yard box and scored her second goal of the game.



Worcester State's senior goalkeeper Jillian Witkowski (Leicester, Mass.) (1-1) posted eight saves in the victory. Worcester State finished with a 35-11 advantage in shots and a 9-5 edge in corner kicks.

On Tuesday, Sep. 8 the women's soccer team will play one more road match against MIT before they debut thier 2015 home opener on Sep. 12 against Clark University.

Release Courtesy of Rhode Island College Sports Information