Worcester, MA- The Lancers continued their history-making season with a trip to Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT for the NCAA First Round meeting with the Babson Beavers. It was the first time the NEWMAC foes and the Lancers had ever faced off, making it a fresh test for Worcester in their first ever NCAA run. Babson fell in their conference championship to MIT while the Lancers held off Framingham State last Saturday to claim their first MASCAC Championship. 

 Final:

Worcester State: 9

Babson: 21

How it Happened:

Worcester State would force a quick turnover to open the game and convert from their backfield straight down the field for an opening goal from junior Molly Witkowski (Greenville, NY). The Beavers would answer back with seven unanswered goals in the opening quarter before the Lancers would again find the back of the net, again off the quick stick of Witkowski. Babson would respond with another goal looking to regain momentum but Worcester State's senior Hannah Erickosn (Dunstable, MA) would grab the foul within the eight meter and a third goal for the Blue and Gold. The first quarter would wrap up at 9-3.

The second would see the game slow down in action a bit, with the first goal nearly four minutes in off a Babson rocket. They would record their second of the quarter for goal 11 but Worcester would not back down as junior Abigail Vincent (Lakeville, MA) would record her first of the game off an assist from Witkowski. Just a few minutes later Witkowski would wrap herself around the crease and go top shelf for goal five for Worcester. After a slow attacking quarter for the Beavers, in the final minute of action they would finally find a break in the Lancer pressure with goal number 12. 

Worcester would open up the goal scoring in the second as senior Abbie Wing (Griswold, CT) got into the scoring off a quick pass to the low crease from senior Ashely Hurley (Feeding Hills, MA). Babson would again find some offense through the staunch Lancer defense for a 13th goal nearly five minutes into the third as their initial fast paced offense had settled into a more patient approach. The tactic would find Babson taking a 19-6 lead into the final quarter. 

Worcester would again open the scoring in the fourth quarter as sophomore Kerry Brown (Billerica, MA) would grab goal seven from Hurley across the zone. Babson would work to keep their distance, answering back about a minute later with a goal of their own. After a second Babson goal, Worcester with just over three minutes on the clock would send in goal number eight off a sharp shot from junior Mckayla Fisher (Peabody, MA). Babson would close it with a final of 21-9 as senior Olivia LaValle (Peabody, MA) made 14 saves in the impressive outing for the Lancers.

Release courtesy of Worcester State Lancers