NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA- Worcester State scored twice within a span of just over four minutes late in the first half, took a 2-1 halftime lead and went on to defeat the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s women’s soccer team, 3-1, in a non-conference match at the UMass Dartmouth Athletic Complex Tuesday afternoon.
 

The Corsairs had taken the early lead when junior midfielder Jessica Swenson (Salem, MA/Salem HS) headed in a free kick by senior defender Jackie Erbafina (North Reading, MA/North Reading HS) at the 25:42 mark. Katelyn Bonetti tied the score for the Lancers less than 10 minutes later when she took Mimi Astuccio’s pass in front of the net and re-directed it home. Stephanie Demake gave Worcester State a 2-1 lead when she headed in Kelsey Irish’s cross at 39:41.

 

Irish scored the only goal of the second half. UMass Dartmouth was whistled for a foul in the box, and Irish slammed a penalty kick high into the net to account for the final margin.

 

“We played better in the first half than we did in the second half,” said U Mass Dartmouth Head Coach Alex Silva. “Worcester State is a good team and you can’t take anything away from them. There were a lot of fouls, and it slowed down the game. I thought we were going to come out and get things going in the second half with the wind at our back, but then we gave up a penalty kick, and that was unfortunate.”

 

The Lancers out shot the Corsairs, 13-8. UMass Dartmouth freshman goalkeeper Tanya Braga (Hudson, MA/Hudson HS) made eight saves, while WSC goalkeeper Erin Doherty was credited with three.

 

UMass Dartmouth fell to 4-10-2 with the defeat, while Worcester State improved to 12-5-0. The Corsairs will return to action when they visit Eastern Connecticut State Saturday afternoon.