MANSFIELD, Conn. --  Lauren Pazdziorny and Paige McNickol scored less than five minutes apart early in the second period and freshman Carolyn Woodin made six saves to carry the Salem State University field hockey team to a 2-0 Little East Conference victory over Eastern Connecticut State University on Seniors' Day Saturday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

At right: Eastern's seniors were honored in pre-game

With its sixth consecutive victory over Eastern, Salem (6-5, 4-3 LEC) takes over fifth place in the conference, knocking Eastern (6-7, 3-4 LEC) into sixth place. Four teams are a game behind the Warriors and tied for the final two LEC playoff spots.

Pazdziorny scored her team-leading tenth goal of the season with just under  four minutes gone in the second half to snap a scoreless duel, and McNickol followed less than five minutes later with her second strike of the season.

Pazdziorny was credited with the goal which began with a hit-in from Kathleen Clark to Erin Botticelli (Salem, MA). Botticelli  slammed a shot from the top of the circle which was re-directed by Pazdziorny past Eastern freshman goalie Samantha Scavo (Redding).  McNickol added insurance when she was able to get a stick on a rebound and poke it past a sprawled Scavo.

Salem could not muster its first shot of the match until 11 minutes remained in the first half and was held without a penalty corner until seven minutes were left in the first half The Vikings had a scoring chance with two minutes left in the first half when freshman Natalie Bourne and Scavo battled to control a loose ball, which was finally cleared by Eastern's Jessica Oliveira (Danbury).

Early in the second half, Salem freshman Katie Pietrini stick-handled through the Eastern defense and unloaded a shot, which was stopped by Scavo. However, minutes later Pazdziorny put the Vikings in front with a goal on her only shot of the day which reached the cage.

With Eastern trailing 1-0 early in the second half, Nicole Vitello (Wallingford) took a cross from the left, but her one-timer attempting to tie the score was stopped by Woodin. Salem answered almost immediately with McNickol's goal that pushed the Salem lead to 2-0.

Down two goals with 15 minutes left, freshman Gabriela Meza (Norwalk) got off a strong shot off a penalty corner, but Woodin kicked it out. In the final minutes, Morgan Osiecki (Bethel) and team scoring leader Hannah Keiser (Danbury) had opportunities to slice the deficit. With room in the circle after receiving a shot pass from the left, Osiecki's bid went wide of the left post. Woodin made her sixth save of the match at the left post with three minutes left on Keiser's  team-leading fourth shot of the match.

The loss is the third straight in the conference for Eastern, which had lost its previous conference decisions by a single goal. Eastern played without starting All-LEC midfielder Laura Chicorka (Enfield), who missed the first start of her two-year career due to personal obligations.

Eastern hosts Connecticut College Wednesday at 4 p.m.