Lancers Post 5-1 Victory Over Vikings

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications

SALEM, Mass. -- Worcester State defeated Salem State 5-1 in MASCAC action on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field. The Lancers improved their record to 4-7-2, 4-2 while the Vikings slipped to 4-9-2, 3-3.  

Prior to the game, coach Wood expressed the significance of this game as both teams are currently tied for third place in the MASCAC heading into Saturday's game. "If we win, we stay at third [place] and if we don't we drop to fifth [place] potentially by the end of the season. It might be a little bigger for us than them, but they always come to battle." 

The Lancers started the game by attacking the Vikings' zone and managed to earn three corner kicks within the first nine minutes of the game.  

Fifteen minutes into the game, Savannah Scrodin (Mount Abraham, Vt.)  made a valiant effort to score the first goal, but the Lancers' defense was resilient. However, Worcester State managed to score the first goal of the game thanks to Emma Jacob (Billerica, Mass) as she scored from 20 yards out from the net. 

The Lancers almost scored another goal when Erin Condon's (East Bridgewater, Mass.) shot went just above the crossbar after Salem State gave up a turnover. Brenna Paquette (Hudson, N.H.) shot a free kick from about 44 yards, but Lancers' goaltender Mallary Dupuis (Leominster, Mass.), made a great save to keep her team in the lead. 

Worcester State extended their lead to 2-0 when Maddie Breuer (Hubbardston, Mass.), scored on an assist from Ava Lemanski (Clinton, Mass). 

The Vikings went into halftime trailing 2-0. Lily Pfefferle (St. Paul, Minn.) saved eight of ten shots on goal while Dupuis saved one shot on goal. The Lancers had five corner kicks compared to the Vikings' none.   

At the beginning of the second half, the Vikings replaced Pfefferle with Ava Guyer (East Granby, Conn.). Salem State was determined to change the outcome of the game and started attacking the Lancers' zone. However, Worcester State did not waste any time to score another goal. Fifty minutes into the game, Lemanski scored on an assist from Condon. Although Guyer made a nice initial save, the rebound allowed Lemanski to score and extend the Lancers' lead. 

Worcester State scored another goal, but it was a controversial one. Condon scored, as her and Guyer almost collided. 

Finally, the Vikings managed to net their first goal of the game when Scrodin scored on an assist from Sydney Durkin (Dracut, Mass.) in the 84th minute. However, the Lancers quickly struck back as Michaela O'Brien (Bedford, Mass.) made it a four-point game in the 85th minute. 

Dupuis saved four-of-five shots on goal, while Guyer saved 11 of 14 shots on goal. Salem State will be looking to bounce back on Wednesday night when they travel to West Conn. The game starts at 6 p.m.