Worcester Polytechnic Institute

WORCESTER -- Madeline Chase (Danvers, MA) scored twice, including the go-ahead goal with 6:14 remaining, as WPI rallied from an early deficit and defeated city rival Worcester State, 4-2, Thursday evening at Coughlin Field.
 
The Engineers improve to 2-4 overall with the victory, while the Lancers also move to 2-4 on the season.
 
Worcester State grabbed the early advantage when Emily Curran (Fall River, MA) scored at 10:21 of the opening quarter. WPI generated several opportunities of its own, with Chloe Luongo (Amherst, NH), Sanidi Waduthanthri (Hopkinton, MA) and Violet Westburg (Falmouth, ME) all testing Lancers goalkeeper Julianna Stanger (New Braintree, MA). Stanger made three first-quarter saves to preserve the Lancers' 1-0 lead after 15 minutes.
 
The Crimson and Gray continued to apply pressure in the second quarter, earning two penalty corners and putting six shots toward the Worcester State cage. Stanger denied Madeline Chase (Danvers, MA), Waduthanthri and Luongo before Chase broke through at 28:42, leveling the contest at 1-1 heading into halftime.
 
WPI took its first lead of the night late in the third quarter, with Emma Barton (Hopewell Junction, NY) converting a penalty corner at 41:55. Waduthanthri and Ella Reeners (Windham, NH) were credited with assists on the play. The Engineers continued to pressure the Lancers, earning four penalty corners in the period and forcing Stanger to make additional saves on Barton and Waduthanthri.
 
Worcester State pulled even midway through the final period when Josefine Cloutier (Greenfield, MA) scored off a feed from Calleigh Currier (Maynard, MA) at 52:21. WPI responded immediately, however, with Chase converting a penalty corner at 53:46, with Waduthanthri and Barton earning assists. Reeners then added an insurance goal at 55:45, scoring off a penalty corner with Barton providing the assist to give the Engineers the 4-2 advantage.
 
WPI finished with a 22-5 advantage in shots, including a 15-3 edge in shots on goal, while earning all 15 penalty corners in the contest. Stanger made 11 saves for Worcester State, while Nina Van Ekelenburg (Abington, PA) and Myles Lakin (Reading, MA) combined for one save for the Engineers. Chase led WPI with three shots and three shots on goal, while Luongo added four shots, all on target, and Waduthanthri recorded six shots and four shots on goal.
 
Both teams kick off conference play with home matchups on Saturday. WPI hosts Clark in its NEWMAC opener at 7pm, while the Lancers entertain Westfield State to begin MASCAC action.