THERIAULT NOTCHES FIRST CAREER POINT IN, 21-10, LOSS TO WORCESTER STATE

Providence, R.I.--Worcester State senior midfielder Jackie Connors (Ashland, MA) scored a pair of goals and added eight assists, while junior attacker Alaina Martin (East Longmeadow, MA) scored six goals and added two assists, as the Lancers topped Rhode Island College, 21-10, in non-conference women’s lacrosse action played at the RIC Lacrosse Field on Thursday night.

RIC (4-8) sophomore defender Taylor Theriault (Lincoln, RI) notched her first career point with an assist on a second half goal.

The Anchorwomen opened up a 3-2 advantage over the Lancers (7-7) in the opening seven minutes, keyed by a pair of goals from junior midfielder Betsy Heidel (Warwick, RI). Worcester State would take control and never look back, scoring 12 of the next 13 goals, which included five by Martin, to take a 14-4 lead with 6:45 remaining in the game. Each team scored once more down the stretch to send the game into the halftime break with RIC trailing by 10, 15-5.

Sophomore defender Taylor Theriault

RIC freshman goalkeeper Julia Eaton (Cumberland, RI) stopped eighth shots in the stanza with WSU junior goaltender Krissy Pessa (Walpole, MA) turning aside two.

With Worcester State’s reserves in the game, the Anchorwomen opened the second half quickly by scoring four of the first five goals to make the score 16-9 with 20:19 remaining in the game. Freshman attacker Tess Bradley (Tiverton, RI) keyed the run with a pair of goals. The Lancers responded by scoring five straight, including a pair by senior attacker Kaila Chase (Northbridge, MA), to up the advantage to 12, 21-9. Following a turnover by the Lancers, Theriault whipped a high-arcing pass into the front of the net that found Bradley who ripped home her fourth goal of the night to cap the scoring for the game.

Eaton finished with 14 saves in the loss (4-8), while Pressa stopped eight shots in the victory (7-7). The Lancers dominated numerous facets of the game, outshooting RIC 42-21, holding a 22-11 edge in draw controls and a 21-18 advantage in ground balls.

Connors 10 points (2g, 8a) led all scorers with Martin’s eight points (6g, 2a) ranking second in the game. Bradley led the RIC attack with four goals and Heidel notched a hat-trick of her own. RIC junior midfielder Allison Smedberg (Cranston, RI) contributed a goal and a pair of assists in the setback.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will resume Little East Conference action at home against Eastern Connecticut on Tuesday, April 26 (6 p.m.).