Worcester, MA - The Worcester State College Lancers field hockey team got three goals in the first half and held on to defeat the Pilgrims of New England College Thursday evening by the final score of, 3-2.    The win improves Worcester State to 8-2 overall while New England College falls to 9-2 on the season.

Worcester State senior Ann Clark (Worcester, MA) opened up the scoring for the Lancers converting a pass from fellow senior Mary Lemelin (Colrain, MA) at the 10:30 mark of the first half.  The goal was Clark’s team leading 8^th of the season.  Junior Colleen Flynn (Arlington, MA) increased Worcester State’s advantage to, 2-0, in the 22^nd minute, scoring her second goal of the year.

New England College got on the board exactly one minute later when Megan Simula (Bridgewater, NH) took a feed from Lori Zaniboni (Wenham, MA) and beat the Lancer keeper to slice the Lancer lead in half, 2-1.  Worcester State scored their final tally of the contest in the 29^th minute when senior co-captain Jennifer Lyons (Norwood, MA) converted a penalty stroke.

New England College’s Brittney Vogrin (Toronto, Ontario) closed the gap to, 3-2, in the 51^st minute but that would be as close as the Pilgrims would get.  New England College did have an opportunity in the 56^th minute but a penalty stroke went wide to preserve the Lancer advantage.

Worcester State keeper Erin MacDonald (Dedham, MA) made three saves on the night, while counterpart Jacqui Parker (Keene, NH) stopped 7 Lancer offerings.

Worcester State will return to action on Saturday when they return to Little East Conference action traveling to Westfield State to take on the Owls.  New England College will also be in action Saturday hosting Regis College.

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