Box Score WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior Taylor Ledwith (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) scored in the 57th minute to snap a 1-1 game and deliver a 2-1 win for the Worcester State University Lancers over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East Conference field hockey game Tuesday night at Coughlin Field.
The win is the third straight for the Lancers who improve their record to 10-6 overall and 5-4 in the Little East Conference. With the loss, Southern Maine falls to 7-10 and 4-5 in the LEC.
The Lancers scored early in the contest and held their 1-0 advantage over the Huskies through the first half. Worcester State earned its one-goal lead in the seventh minute when Julie O'Rourke converted a penalty stroke for her 11th goal of the season. Worcester State kept the Huskies off of the scoreboard over the next 28 minutes as freshman goalkeeper Kathryn Salemme (Boxboro, Mass./Acton-Boxboro) made six saves in the first half.
Southern Maine senior forward Peyton Dostie (Standish, Maine/Bonny Eagle) wasted little time netting the equalizer for the Huskies, notching her team-leading 15th goal of the season just 41 seconds into the second half. Dostie's goal came after she collected a turnover from the Lancer defense and hit a strong shot from the left side of the circle to the far post.
The score remained 1-1 over the next 20 minutes. The Huskies had a pair of near goals in the 47th minute as shots from freshman Lindsay Jackson (Readfield, Maine/Maranacook) and senior Rebecca Pratt (Cornville, Maine/Skowhegan) were each denied by WSU junior Megan Ripke (Feeding Hills, Mass./Agawam) with two defensive saves. Despite the Huskies' offensive pressure, the Lancers came away with the goal as Ledwith converted an assist tipping in a pass from senior Kelli McPherson (Manfield, Mass.) for her third goal of the season. USM closed out the game with pair of penalty corners and a shot wide of goal, but was unable to get the equalizer.
Salemme made six saves in the win, aided by Ripke's defensive saves. USM sophomore Amanda Kasbohm (York, Maine) made four saves in the loss.
Southern Maine returns home on Saturday (12:00 p.m.) and will face Western Connecticut in its annual "Think Pink" game. The Huskies' have teamed with the National Field Hockey Coaches' Association (NFHCA) to raise money for the National Cancer Foundation during the month of October. Worcester State heads to Fitchburg State on Saturday (10:00 a.m.) for its next game.
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