Women's Lacrosse Falls to Worcester State on Senior Night, 10-9

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Worcester State University women's lacrosse team edged Bridgewater State University, 10-9, in a tightly-contested Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference affair on Saturday night at Swenson Field. The game marked the regular season finale for both teams as well as Senior Night for the host Bears.

The visiting Lancers improve to 10-7 on the season and 5-2 in the MASCAC, while the Bears fall to 8-8 overall and 4-3 in conference play. Worcester is the number three seed in next week's MASCAC Tournament and will host #6 seed Massachusetts Maritime Academy in a quarterfinal round game on Tuesday evening at six o'clock. Bridgewater is seeded fourth in the conference tournament and will entertain #5 Salem State University on Tuesday afternoon at three.

The game was close throughout with neither team leading by more than two goals at any point throughout the contest. The score was knotted at 5-5 at the intermission and 7-7 at the end of three quarters.

A player advantage goal by junior midfielder Lily Gendron (Lakeville, Mass.) off an assist from senior midfielder Julia Ravenelle (Barrington, N.H.) put the visitors on top, 8-7, with 9:23 remaining in the fourth quarter. Ravenelle then set up a scoring strike by junior attack Shea Jarvis (Auburn, Mass.) to give the Lancers a two-goal cushion with 6:59 showing on the scoreboard. The Bears answered just 36 seconds later on the player advantage with senior midfielder Delaney Langton (Scituate, R.I.) finding the back off the net with fellow senior Hayley Carron (Hopedale, Mass.) collecting the assist.

Trailing by one, BSU sophomore attack Savannah Herrington (Kinnelon, N.J.) converted off the free position to even the game at 9-9. Worcester State junior attack Emily Pavoni (Granby, Mass.) then potted the game-winner with 3:48 left to play as she buried an unassisted tally to give the Lancers a 10-9 lead.

Bridgewater won the ensuing draw and had two scoring opportunities that sailed high and wide. The Bears then lost possession after being whistled for a shot clock violation. A caused turnover and ground ball by senior defender Taylor Carroll (Carver, Mass.) got the ball back for the hosts with under a minute left to play, but the Bears were unable to convert out of a timeout.

Ravenelle finished with a game-high five points on two goals and three assists, while Gendron notched a hat trick for the Lancers and senior attack Clare Conway (Billerica, Mass.) added a pair of goals.

Senior attack Lindsay Brown (East Longmeadow, Mass.) scored three times to pace the Bears who also received two goals apiece from Herrington and freshman attack Nina Liquori (Agawam, Mass.). Langton checked in with a goal and an assist while classmate Katherine Tracy (Marion, Mass.) also recorded a goal and a helper.

The Bears finished with a 32-28 shot advantage for the game as well as a 24-20 edge in ground balls. Bridgewater also successfully converted 15 of 17 clear attempts. The Lancers held a 12-10 advantage in draw controls and went 16-for-18 on the clear. The two teams combined to go 3-for-13 on free position attempts.

Gendron and freshman midfielder Hannah Erickson (Dunstable, Mass.) led all players with five draw controls apiece. Gendron also forced three turnovers and corralled a game-high five ground balls.

Carroll led the BSU defensive effort with three caused turnovers and four ground balls, while graduate defender Kelsi Brennan (Dedham, Mass.) tallied three ground balls, two caused turnovers and a team-best four draw controls.

Junior netminder Savanna Rosado (Milford, Mass.) made ten saves to record her sixth win of the season between the pipes for the Lancers. Junior goalkeeper Olivia Kerrigan (Braintree, Mass.) turned aside 11 shots in the setback for the Bears.

Prior to the game, the Bears held Senior Night festivities as Brown, Carron, Langton, Tracy and fellow seniors Jordan Brown (East Longmeadow, Mass.), Lily Carson (Medford, Mass.), Jacqueline DeLorey (Westwood, Mass.), Kristen MacDonald (Hull, Mass.) and Katie Swart (Bridgewater, Mass.) were honored.