Worcester State Blanks Salem State In Regular Season Finale

Prior to the game, coach Atkinson expressed the importance of finishing the season with a .500 record in conference play. "Just going .500 [in MASCAC] compared to last year. We struggled last season so this season I think we are in a better situation. I think we are ending on a better note and I think we are confident in our play, and I think the playoffs will be good for us." 

The game started with a flurry of attacks from Worcester State, quickly putting the Vikings on the defensive. Izzy Mosley (Middleborough, Mass.) made an impressive right kick to prevent the Lancers from scoring. However, Sophia Cavallo (Northborough, Mass.) put the ball in the net from seven feet out, beating Mosley on the left side as she attempted a diving save. As the first period progressed, Salem State began putting pressure on Worcester State, blocking shots and minimizing the Lancers' shots on goal. 

With a minute remaining in the first quarter, Mosley made two remarkable saves, extending her body to prevent Worcester State's captain Grace Adams (Leominster, Mass.) and Zoe Athanasopoulos (Hopedale, Mass.) from scoring on separate occasions. At the end of the first period, Mosley had saved two out of three shots on goal, while Worcester State's Gastonguay had yet to make a save. The Lancers had two penalty corners compared to the Vikings' none. Worcester State had committed ten fouls, while Salem State had seven. 

In the second quarter, Athanasopoulos attempted to score and extend Worcester State's lead, shooting from 12 feet out on the right side of the field, but the ball went just wide of the left side of the net. Midway through the period, Mosley made a right-kick save when Natalya Morin (Barre, Mass.) tried to put one in for Worcester State. Salem State was awarded a penalty corner but couldn't get the ball past the net to even the score. 

At the end of the first half, Mosley saved seven out of eight shots while, Gastonguay saved two shots. Worcester State had three penalty corners while Salem State had one. The Lancers committed 21 fouls, while the Vikings committed 12. 

After the game coach Atkinson talked abaout the message during half-time for Salem State to get back in the game " 1-0 game is still a game, 2-0 game is still a game. That was kind of the message. We need to clean it up and go around and then hit the middle. They allowed you to send it middle, but then they trap you so we kind of wanted to avoid that. We told them we need to forget what happened and it is still a game and and play. I think they did better in the third quarter and we did alright in the fourth quarter until we gave up the last couple of goals."  

As the third quarter began, both teams were competitive, but Worcester State was more aggressive, attacking Salem State's zone. Mosley displayed her skills in the net, making a few kick saves during the period. Late in the period, Worcester State's Charlotte MacGregor (Bellingham, Mass.) shot 22 feet from the net. Although Mosley saved the shot, Athanasopoulos scored on the rebound, increasing the Lancers' lead to two. 

At the end of third period, Mosley saved eight out of ten shots, while Gastonguay saved both shots. Throughout the first three periods, there were 56 fouls, with 20 of them committed by the Vikings. The Lancers had nine penalty corners, while Salem State had only two. 

In the fourth quarter, Salem State almost got on the board when Allison Thomas (Carver, Mass.) shot one near the right side of the net, but Gastonguay blocked it. Three straight penalty corners highlighted the Vikings' efforts, as Salem State was looking to score, but Worcester State capitalized on their opportunities, and Allison Keenan (Marlborough, Mass.) extended the lead. Salem State's Mikayla Mason (Beverly, Mass.) passed the ball to Thomas, who was about 12 feet from the net and looking to score, but Gastonguay made a huge save, preventing the Vikings from getting on the board. 

At the end of the game, Mosley had saved 12 out of 15 shots, while Gastonguay saved all six shots on goal. Worcester State had 11 penalty corners, while Salem State had ten. The Lancers had committed 46 fouls, while the Vikings had 29.