NO. 1 WORCESTER STATE WINS FOURTH
STRAIGHT
MASCAC WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
Click here for box score
WORCESTER, MA, Nov. 4, 2007 - The top-seeded
Worcester State College women's soccer team will be making their
fourth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance by virtue of their
3-0 victory in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference
championship game over the second seeded Salem State College
Vikings Sunday afternoon at Coughlin Field in a match postponed
from Saturday.
The Lancers, who won the MASCAC regular season championship for the second time in three seasons, have now won four straight conference tournament titles. Last season, the Lancers advanced to the NCAA 2nd round before succumbing in penalty kicks to Endicott College.
The teams battled to a scoreless tie in the first half with the Lancers out shooting Salem State, 9-4, in the half. Worcester State had the best scoring opportunity in the 26th minute Worcester State co-captain Kelsey Irish (Worcester, MA) hit a direct kick from 25 yards out which hit the crossbar.
In the second half, Worcester State opened the scoring in the 50th minute when Irish launched a free kick across the field and defender Stephanie Demake (Auburn, MA) headed the pass into a vacated Salem State net. The goal was her 3rd of the season.
The Lancers next opportunity was in the 65th minute when Salem State keeper Abby DeAngelo (Lowell, MA) made a diving stop on a shot by Worcester State junior Tiffany Rotatori (Auburn, MA).
Three minutes later in the 68th, Rotatori gave the Lancers a, 2-0, advantage when she headed in a Kelsey Irish corner kick for her team leading 9th goal of the season.
The Lancers closed out the scoring when junior Mimi Astuccio (Foxboro, MA) lead junior Katelyn Bonetti (Plymouth, MA) for a breakaway tally to give Worcester State the, 3-0, victory.
Worcester State goalkeeper Erin Doherty (Uxbridge, MA) made two saves on the day while DeAngelo stopped nine Lancer offerings.
Worcester State will await word from the NCAA selection
committee as to their first round pairing on Monday morning.
