WORCESTER, Mass. — The Wheaton College (Mass.) field hockey team was edged at host Worcester State University, 2-1, this evening at John F. Coughlin Field in Worcester, Mass. 

The Lyons dip to 3-4 on the season, while the Lancers improve to 2-3.

Worcester State held a 13-9 shot advantage and owned a 10-6 margin on penalty corners.

Both teams scored their first respective goals within 68 seconds of each other late in the first quarter, before a scoring drought of more than 27 minutes ensued. 

The Lancers tallied the eventual game-winner with 7:27 left in the third quarter to take a 2-1 lead. Junior midfielder Madison Avilla (Westport, Mass.) worked through the Wheaton defense and scored the final marker to give Worcester State the lead for good.

The Lancers opened the night's scoring as well, getting on the board with 5:37 remaining in the opening quarter. Senior forward Grace Adams (Leominster, Mass.) sent a pass from the top of the circle to senior forward Zoe Athanasopoulos (Hopedale, Mass.) on the baseline, where she carried the ball into the goalmouth before finding the back of the cage to give the home team a 1-0 edge.

The Lyons were quick to respond with junior forward Delia Knox (Cumberland Center, Maine) converting a feed on a penalty corner from senior forward Anda Brown (South Woodstock, Vt.) just 68 seconds later for her second marker of the season. 

Knox finished with three shots to pace the visitors.

Senior goalie Emma Lapreziosa (Bowdoinham, Maine) made eight saves for Wheaton, while Sam Gastonguay (Ashburnham, Mass.) stopped four shots for Worcester State. 

The Lyons return to play on Saturday, September 23 when they head to Babson Park, Mass. to take on New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference foe No. 2 Babson College at 11:30 a.m., while the Lancers travel to Beverly, Mass. to play Endicott College on September 21 at 7:00 p.m.