Panthers clinch home-field advantage in LEC play-offs

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Freshman Lauren Carroll (Rollinsford, N.H./Somersworth) scored three goals Saturday afternoon to lead the Plymouth State University field hockey team to a 4-2 victory over Worcester State University in a Little East Conference game at Arold Field.

            The visitors took a one-goal lead twice in the first half and both times Carroll answered with the equalizer for PSU.  Carroll finished off her first career hat trick with the go-ahead goal, and eventual game-winner, four minutes into the second half. Panther senior Kristina Conroy (Wakefield, Mass.) celebrated Senior Day with three assists as PSU posted its second straight victory to improve to 10-5 overall and 8-2 in conference play.  WSU drops to 6-11 and 3-7.

            Worcester State broke onto the scoreboard first when junior Samantha Janda (Sterling, Mass.) scored her sixth goal of the season with 15 minutes left in the first half.  Carroll evened the score five minutes later with her first of the day, but junior Haley Erickson (Saugus, Mass.) tallied her first goal of the year for Worcester State on a scramble in the front of the net to give the Lancers the lead back.  Carroll again had an answer for PSU, deflecting home a shot from the top of the circle with less than two minutes on the clock.  PSU had a 10-2 advantage in shots in the first half but had to settle for a 2-2 deadlock at the intermission.

            Carroll notched her third goal of the afternoon four minutes into the second half on another scramble in front, and freshman Natalie Harkins (Windham, Maine) scored an insurance goal on a breakaway with about 10 minutes remaining in the game.

            Plymouth State finished with a 26-3 advantage in shots for the game.  Junior Kat Masterjohn (Warren, Mass.) had a busy day in the WSU goal and finished with 14 saves.  PSU sophomore netminder goalie Hilary Lemelin (Milan, N.H.) made just one save.

            PSU, which has clinched home-field advantage in the first round of the LEC post-season tournament, will play a non-conference game Tuesday at Arold Field against Saint Joseph's College (Maine) at 3:00 p.m.  Worcester State plays a non-conference game Wednesday at Nichols (4:00 p.m.)        

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Photo Caption:  PSU Field Hockey Co-captains Lauren Bergeron and Kristina Conroy show off their pink socks and hair ribbons on "Stick it to Cancer" Day at Arold Field.