Franzik Propels Field Hockey over WPI in Overtime Season Opener

NEWTON, Mass. (9/1/16) – Sophomore Julia Franzik (Wallingford, Conn.) was the deciding factor in a 2-1 Lasell field hockey victory over Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Thursday afternoon at Grellier Field. The Lasers slide into the win column at 1-0, while the Engineers start the fall campaign at 1-0.

Franzik scored the overtime thriller 2:42 into the sudden death period, weaving around two WPI defenders for a straight shot to net.

6:11 into the contest, Franzik found freshman Samantha Taylor (Hanover, Mass.) for Lasell's first goal of the year following a penalty corner. The lead wouldn't last long as the Engineers fired back to deadlock the game, 1-1, on a redirected shot to net. Senior Hope Shevchuk (Burlington, Conn.) ripped a shot off a WPI penalty corner that was stopped by Lasell junior Denise Landry (New Milford, Conn.), before freshman Carly Cidado (Easton, Mass.) capitalized on the loose ball out front.

As the clocked ran down to the end of regulation, WPI's Shevchuk chipped a promising shot to frame that was stuffed by a sprawling Landry on the play, forcing the overtime period.

Taylor sparked the OT offense for the Lasers, firing two shots to frame with WPI sophomore keeper Karen Noble (Mariaville, Maine) on the save, before Franzik put the game away for the Lasers with the straight shot to frame.

Landry starts the season off a 1-0 with six saves on the day, while Noble dips to 0-1 with seven saves.

Both teams return to non-conference road action on Saturday, September 3 at 11:00 a.m.  The Lasers will take on the Hawks of Becker College, while the Engineers face off with Simmons College.