Falcons Nipped By Lancers, 3-2 (OT)

DeHorsey and Denning net goals for Falcons in LEC setback

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University field hockey team dropped a tough 3-2 overtime decision to the Lancers of Worcester State University in Little East Conference (LEC) action this morning at Elliot Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 2, Worcester State 3
Records: Fitchburg State (7-6, 4-6 LEC) | Worcester State (11-3, 8-1 LEC)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the 27th minute of action as sophomore forward Aislinn DeHorsey (Leominster, Mass.) gathered a loose ball in front of the cage off a shot from junior Molly Richard (Leominster, Mass.) and deposited the ball inside the far post for her team-leading ninth marker on the year for the 1-0 advantage going into the break.

Following intermission, Worcester State knotted the score (1-1) at the 36:57 mark when junior forward Michaila Parent (Westborough, Mass.) received a feed from freshman Rachel Hopkins (Chelmsford, Mass.) and struck for her team-best 14th score of the year.

The Falcons regained the lead with just under five minutes on the year as senior Rachael Denning (Salem, N.H.) redirected a shot off the stick of Richard for her fifth goal on the season before the Lancers retied the contest (2-2) roughly four minutes later on freshman Sammi Souke's (Sandwich, Mass.) third tally of the year to force overtime.

In overtime, Worcester State netted the game-winner at the 80:55 mark when Parent gathered a feed from sophomore Olivia Antonelli (Westford, Mass.) and fired a shot into the back of the cage for her second goal of the contest, resulting in the 3-2 final.

Inside the Numbers

37th meeting between two schools in field hockey with the Falcons 16-21-0 when taking on the Lancers.

Worcester State has won three of the four and four of the last six meeting with the Falcons.

Prior to the contest, the Fitchburg State University field hockey team honored five seniors playing in their final regular season. The senior are #2 Jillian Schultze (Winchendon, Mass.), #5 Rachael Denning (Salem, N.H.), #6 Casey Noonan (Feeding Hills, Mass.), #9 Bailey Miller (Leominster, Mass.) and #14 Kerra Anastasia (Mansfield, Mass.)

Sophomore goaltender Rhiannon Fletcher (Royalston, Mass.) turned away two second half shots for the Falcons in the setback, while senior Kathryn Salemme (Boxborough, Mass.) made four saves for the Lancers in the complete game effort.

Fitchburg State held an 11-6 margin in shots, while Worcester State finished with an 11-8 edge in penalty corners.

Up Next

Falcons will host the Amcast of Anna Maria College on Tuesday for a non-conference matchup, starting at 4 p.m. Worcester State hosts the Owls of Westfield State University on the same day for a 7 p.m. start.