Lancers Clip Owls in Conference Clash

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State grad student Kylie Buchanan (Westfield, Mass.) and senior Mykenzie Black (Hopedale, Mass.) each scored four goals, but the Owls were unable to overcome a four-goal halftime deficit, falling to Worcester State 11-10 in a MASCAC game from Worcester, Mass. on Tuesday night.

The Owls suffer their first loss in conference play and had won 18 of their previous 19 conference games (including playoffs) entering tonight, dropping to 2-1 in the conference and 4-10 overall. The Lancers improve to an even 1-1 in the league and 7-6 on the year. The last time the Lancers defeated the Owls was back in the 2014 season with the Owls winning 15 consecutive meetings prior to tonight.

Both teams traded goals to begin the first quarter with Buchanan tying the game at three goals apiece with 3:44 left. Mckayla Fisher (Peabody, Mass.) scored 40 seconds later for Worcester, giving the Lancers a one-goal lead after 15 minutes of action.

The two sides continued to trade markers as Black scored off the opening draw control just 19 seconds into the frame before Abbie Wing (Griswold, Conn.) responded with a player-up goal only eight seconds after. Fisher scored with 10:20 to go in the half to push Worcester ahead by two. The teams then exchanged goals once again with Mercedes Rozzi (South Burlington, Vt.) netting her first of the night to close the gap to one goal with 5:28 remaining in the half.

Worcester piled up three goals in the final 1:30 of the half, entering the break with momentum and their largest lead of the night after a goal from Hannah Erickson (Dunstable, Mass.) then a pair of goals from Fisher inside a minute left to open a 10-6 Lancers lead.

In the second half, the Owls defense began to clamp down the Lancers attack by holding them to a single goal and just ten total shots, eight of which were directed towards the net. Owls goalkeeper Kara Banagan (Niskayuna, N.Y.) was sharp, making eight of nine saves in the half to keep Westfield within striking distance.

The Owls walked down the Worcester lead after scoring four unanswered goals to tie the contest. Three third quarter goals from Black, Emma Prattson (Tolland, Conn.), and Buchanan trimmed the deficit to one goal heading into the final frame.

With 8:14 remaining in the game, Buchanan tied the game with her fourth goal of the night, beating Worcester goalie Olivia LaValle (Peabody, Mass.) for the equalizer.

After over 23 minutes of game action without a goal, the Lancers found the back of the net with 5:44 to go as Molly Witkowski (Greenville, N.Y.) tallied her first of the night and the Lancers lone goal of the half.

Westfield had a pair of chances late in the game seeking to find a goal to send the game into overtime, but the Worcester defense held strong, forcing two turnovers mixed with a critical save from LaValle with 1:29 left. LaValle scooped up a ground ball off an Owls turnover with 24 seconds left allowing the Lancers to run out the clock to secure the win.

Banagan took a hard-fought loss after matching her career high in saves, posting 17 saves on 28 shots on goal. LaValle made 13 saves for Worcester in the winning effort.

Westfield State has three games remaining in the regular season, all against MASCAC opponents beginning on Friday at 6:00 P.M. at Fitchburg State.