WESTFIELD, Mass. – Cassidy Connolly (Woburn, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal with 41 seconds left in regulation to lift Westfield State University to a hard-fought 12-11 win over Worcester State in a non-conference women's lacrosse game at Alumni Field on Saturday.

With the shot clock winding down, Victoria Paras fed Connolly on the right side of the seven-meter arc, where she ripped a sidewinder of a shot into the upper corner of the cage as she was being checked to the ground by a Lancers defender for what proved to be the winning goal.

The game was tight throughout. Worcester (3-2) led 3-2 on a Lily Gendron (Lakeville, Mass.) goal less than five minutes into the game, then the Owls took the lead 4-3 on a Cassidy Harvey free position shot at the 20:09 mark.

Westfield (4-1) couldn't get away from the Lancers, leading 6-3 at the half, and never leading by more than three.  The Lancers tied the game 10-10 on an Abby Magnuson (Ellington, Conn.) free position goal with 8:31 left, and took an 11-10 lead when Kylie Hill (Lunenburg, Mass.) fed Shea Jarvis (Auburn, Mass.) with 3:34 to play.

The Owls tied the game 11-11 on a Kelly Gearin goal with 2:34 to play that set up the dramatic finish.

Chloe O'Brien (Sturbridge, Mass.) made eight saves in goal for the Lancers. Westfield split the game, with Lily Sears starting and making five saves in 38 minutes, before she was relieved by Kara Banagan, who made five stops.

Gearin led the Owls with three goals. Connolly added two goals and two assists, and Sam Donohoe also scored twice for Westfield.

Jarvis and Gendron led the Lancers with three goals and an assist each.

Westfield will next play Thursday evening at Bridgewater State in a MASCAC league game. Worcester will host Fitchburg Thursday evening in conference play.

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Release courtesy of Westfield State Athletic Communications.