Lancers Drop Storm Filled Match to WPI

Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Women's Soccer team was the lone sport in action this afternoon as they traveled to WPI in a bid to grab their first win of the season. The game immediately had a touch of urgency as the heat and the incoming weather had each team looking for success quickly prior  to the elements playing a major impact in the game.

Worcester started quick off the touch as junior Raelynn Callahan (Pepperell, MA), fresh in her return to action, charged down the right sideline into the box for an attempt on the Engineers cage, but the goalie came sliding out to quickly smother the ball and end the early threat. The Engineers had an attempt of their own shortly after as they worked their way down the left side but sophomore Mallory Dupuis (Leominster, MA) was quick to gather the ball and the team transitioned quickly up to the field to begin the back and forth battle. This quickly became the norm as the game became a battle between the teams in the midfield. Senior Riley Patenaude (Pepperell, MA), sophomore Erin Condon (East Bridgewater, MA) and first year Jessica Forbes (Clinton, MA) worked the ball from the back up numerous times in a bid to develop some productive attack for the Lancers. The 9' minute saw the first scoring action of the game as WPI managed to work the ball across the box and tuck one  past Dupuis to take the 1-0 lead just as the rain began to fall.

Worcester State had a near goal in 16' minutes when the ball took a high bounce off the WPI keeper but she was just able to scramble back to settle it before the Worcester State attack could get a piece of the ball across the goal line. The Lancers cracked the scoring code in the 25' minute when first year Olivia Magierowski (Brimfield, MA) scored her first collegiate goal when she sent a deep ball to the cage that squeezed through the WPI keeper's legs to tie the game up at a goal a piece. WPI was quick to respond, charging down the field as thunder began to rumble, but Dupuis came out with a diving save at the top of the box to end the threat. The remainder of the half saw a number of opportunities for each team, but shots wide and high abounded as the clock ticked down to send the teams into the locker room tied 1-1.

After a 30 minute delay start in the second half due to lightning in the area, both teams were back on the pitch trying to grab the win before the weather could become unmanageable. The Lancers were quick to attempt to jump ahead of Condon's foot, as a quick charge down the field saw a bouncing slipper ball slip out of the keeper's hands. A challenge by Callahan brought the keeper down with the ball securely in possession, but made the point of how difficult this second half could become as the rain picked up.

In the 48' minute, a Lancers foul in the box brought the Engineers' Madison Bagby up for the penalty kick, sending the ball just past a diving Dupuis for WPI to claim the 2-1 advantage. Throughout the second half the rain steadily picked up making each step and touch pivotal in maintaining the possession and momentum as each team worked to navigate around the sloppy surface. The remainder of the second half saw the ball sailing from end to end on the slick surface as the team's worked to gain the upper hand. Each team had numerous scoring potentials but were unable to find the back of the net. The Lancers made a number of strong attempts as the final minutes of the game wined down in an attempt to grab back the tie, challenging every Engineer possession and threatening in the box but the WPI defense closed up quick to prevent the scoring opportunity, taking the 2-1 victory.

Dupuis ended the day with 6 saves while loan goal scorer Magierowski led the team with two shots on cage in the match. WPI finished the match with 8 shots on goal to the Lancers 5. 

Worcester State moves to (0-2-1, 0-0) while WPI now sits at (2-3, 0-0). The Lancers are back in action on Wednesday September 13th when they host Eastern Connecticut at 7pm.