WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University field hockey team scored a season-high seven goals on Saturday afternoon as the Lancers took down UMass Dartmouth 7-0 in Little East Conference action at Coughlin Field.
With the win, Worcester State improves to 5-1 overall on the season and 1-0 in the LEC. UMass Dartmouth drops to 0-3 and 0-1 in league play.
Senior Sophia Monopoli (Worcester, Mass.) put Worcester State on the board first just 1:01 into the first quarter, depositing her own rebound past the Corsair keeper to put the hosts on top 1-0. Despite outshooting UMass Dartmouth 7-0 in the quarter, the score remained 1-0 after one.
Worcester State's offense kicked it into gear in the second quarter, scoring three goals to take a 4-0 lead into the half. Junior Alexa Bobbin (Charlestown, R.I.) got the ball rolling just 29 seconds into the corner when she batted a Lexie Panagiotopoulos (Lowell, Mass.) feed out of mid-air and into the cage for her first goal of the season. Coley Hayes (Norwood, Mass.) and Rachel Hopkins (Chelmsford, Mass.) each scored for Worcester in the quarter as well.
Third quarter goals from Monopoli and junior Lauren Fleming (Leominster, Mass.) gave Worcester State a 6-0 edge through three. Freshman Molly Cutting (Auburn, Mass.) was credited with an assist on Fleming's tally for her first collegiate point.
Junior Sammi Souke (Sandwich, Mass.) put the icing on the cake with five minutes remaining, with an assist credited to sophomore Hope Makey (Clinton, Mass.).
Worcester State outshot the Corsairs 24-4 in the contest, and led 18-2 in shots on goal. Both of UMass Dartmouth's shots on target resulted in Lancer defensive saves, with sophomore Ann Maher (Mansfield, Mass.) and freshman Carly Duff (Warren, Mass.) each stopped shots off the line to help Worcester State preserve the shutout in the fourth quarter. Corsair senior Bridget Harrington (Florence, Mass.) also was credited with a defensive save in the contest, denying a late Makey chance in the fourth quarter.
UMass Dartmouth's Katelyn Banalewicz (Fall River, Mass.) was sharp in goal for the Corsairs, turning away 10 Lancer shots. Jess Hopkins (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Kacy Florence (Methuen, Mass.) combined for the shutout for Worcester State.
The Lancers will be back in action on Wednesday when they host Connecticut College at 7 p.m. The Corsairs play in their home opener on Thursday night, hosting Lasell.
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