MANSFIELD, Conn. – The Worcester State University women's lacrosse team scored ten of the game's 11 goals at one point and withstood a hard-charging but late Eastern Connecticut State University rally over the final eight minutes to post a 13-8 non-conference victory Tuesday evening at Rick McCarthy Field at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

Trailing 13-4, Eastern (0-10) matched its goal total to that point over the final eight minutes, but it was a case of too little, too late as Worcester (5-2) defeated Eastern for the first time in the last four meetings between the programs.

The Warriors were able to neutralize Worcester's second-leading and draw leader Madison Brennan (one shot and one draw), but they could not contact leading scorer Kelly Austin as the 5-foot-3 inch attack led all players with five goals, and Coley Hayes picked up seven of her team's 12 draws.

Worcester broke from a 3-3 tie to score the final two goals of the first half, then poured in five unanswered goals over the first ten minutes into the second half to move out to an insurmountable 10-3 lead.

Junior attack Madison Renaud (Somers) led Eastern with a career-high four goals but no teammate contributed more than one.  Sophomore midfielder Olivia Donahue (Avon) won six of the team's 11 draws, senior midfielder Michelina Pinto (Groton) caused three turnovers and won four ground balls.

Senior Jessica Purick (Riverhead, NY) made 13 saves for Eastern, and freshmen Aiyana Ward (Waterbury) and Gabby Abramczyk (Bristol) each netted the first goals of their careers.

Worcester decisively won the battle of shots (36-22), ground balls (30) and turnovers (31-22).

Eastern visits Massachusetts Dartmouth Saturday in a Little East Conference match at 3 p.m.

-30-