Springfield, Mass. – September 12, 2024 – A second half surge by the Springfield College field hockey team sent the Pride over Worcester State University, 3-2, in a non-conference tilt on Stagg Field on Thursday evening.

Springfield, now winners of three straight contests after opening the season 0-2, improved to 3-2 overall, while Worcester State, remained winless at 0-4.

Sophomore Hailey Gaydos (Newington, Conn.) powered the Springfield offense with two goals tonight, while first-year Kate O'Connor (Hampden, Mass.) notched her first collegiate goal for the Pride. Springfield held control of the game in the second half as it out shot Worcester State 14-2 over the final 30 minutes of the contest and 20-7 overall. Springfield also posted a 15-5 differential in penalty corners.

After a scoreless opening period, Worcester State struck for a pair of goals for a 2-0 lead heading into the break. Kylie Casey gave the Lancers their initial goal on a penalty stroke, before Kate Harrison tapped in a long pass from Maggie Nailor to double their advantage 21 minutes into the game. Worcester State's pair of goals in the second marked its first two scores of the season after being held without a goal over the first three games of the 2024 campaign.

Midway through the third quarter, Gaydos cut the visitors lead in half as she finished a pass from Audrey Hayes (Oxford, Mass.). Hayes tallied her first assist of the season and third of her career. Less than three minutes later an unassisted strike by O'Connor knotted the game at two as she gathered the ball off a shot by Molly Collins (Franklin, Mass.) that was saved by Madison Ferrara and pushed it into the cage for the equalizer.

Just 1:47 into the fourth Gaydos took the ball and drove long down the field, went 1-on-1 with the keeper and scored what proved to be the game winning goal – her second of the night and third of the season. The Pride defense went on to allow just one shot to Worcester State over the final 15 minutes of play en route to the team's third consecutive victory.

In net, Neilee Hess (Franklin, Mass.) made four saves and remained unbeaten in the cage for Springfield.

Springfield is off until next Wednesday, September 18 when it hosts No. 19 nationally-ranked Trinity College (Conn.) on Stagg at 6:00 pm.

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