Second Half Surge Topples the Lancers

Worcester, MA- The Lancers were quick on the trigger in Rhode Island this afternoon as they looked to capture their first win of the season. An early surge had the Lancers looking likely to pull it off, but a defensive shift by Salve Regina in the second stalled the rapid offense.

Barely a minute into the game Worcester junior forward Haley Samara Worcester, MA) sent a ball high over the cage to get the action rolling at Salve Regina. The Seahawks were quick to respond with a shot by Regina McLaughlin that was quickly wrapped up by first year goalkeeper Mallory Dupuis (Leominster, MA). The Seahawks nabbed their first save of the game off a quick strike by senior Hailey Skrownski (Douglas MA) in the 7' minute. Just another 7- minutes later, senior Haley Mignon (Tewksbury, MA) rocketed a shot from first year Addison Enos (Middleboro, MA) past Salve's keeper Georgia Drake for the first goal of the game. Less than two minutes later Mignon grabbed her second of the game with a quick return of a loose ball into the back of the net to put the Lancers up 2-0. Mignon was not done yet, she quickly went looking for the quick hat trick when minutes later she headed the ball high over the goalkeeper, but just too high as the ball dinged off the crossbar. Salve Regina would not concede easy though, working the ball into the attacking zone and forcing Dupuis and the defense into action. The Worcester State defense was able to hold their turf and stem Salve's offensive until the final ten minutes of the half saw a shot squeezed past Dupuis to put the Seahawks on the board as both teams headed into the half with the score 2-1.

The persistence of the Seahawks continued to pay off as they quickly tied up the game at just less than five minutes into the second half. The Lancers were quick to respond with a shot by senior Cammie Arnold (Marlborough, MA), but a new goalie in for Salve, Reagan Moffett, limited the success of Worcester through the half. Salve Regina grabbed the go-ahead goal just past the 58-minute mark, a lead they would hold onto until the final buzzer went off, even as sophomore Michaela O'Brien (Bedford, MA) and Mignon continued their offensive campaign.

The Seahawks just edged out the Lancers with a 19-17 shot advantage and a 10-8 shot on goal advantage in the match. Mignon led the Lancers with four shots on goal, two of which found the back of the net. Dupuis stopped seven shots in the afternoon in the effort.

The Seahawks currently sit at 2-4-0 while the Lancers move to 0-4-1 on the young season. The Lancers are next in action on Saturday, September 17 when they open up conference play at Coughlin Field when they host the MCLA Trailblazers at 12pm.