By Jen Toland, College Beat Writer
October 31, 2012
Worcester, MA --- The MASCAC expanded its field for this week's soccer tournaments from four teams to six, and that's good news for the Worcester State men's squad and captain DJ Gustafson of Webster.
The Lancers' overall record of 4-10-2 isn't great, but they won their last three games of the regular season to grab the fifth seed in the tourney. Gustafson, a fifth-year senior midfielder, is hoping to make the most of his final playoff appearance.
"It's a whole new season once you get into the tournament," Gustafson said. "I think we can make some noise, for sure."
Gustafson, who helped lead Bartlett High to a state title in 2006, came back from injury to start all 16 games for the Lancers this season. In the third game of 2011, Gustafson fractured the tibia and fibula in his right leg and missed the rest of the season. He received a medical waiver to return to the Lancers this year.
"I was happy to come back," said Gustafson, who was an All-MASCAC second-team selection as a sophomore, "but the other guys I played with for my whole college experience graduated last year, so I feel like the old guy on the team."
Gustafson, who is finishing up course work toward his degree in business administration, which he will earn in December, is also working 25 hours a week at an accounting firm in Westboro this semester.
The Lancers, who last year advanced to the MASCAC semifinals and earned an ECAC Division 3 Tournament invitation, finished the regular season with wins over Fitchburg State, Rhode Island College and MCLA. Their schedule included three regionally ranked opponents.
"I feel like we played pretty well the whole season," Gustafson said. "We just didn't play a whole game together for most of the season. The past couple of weeks we've come together."
Junior Brendan Whitson of Auburn has keyed the late-season run with seven points in the last three games. Whitson has eight goals and 21 points, both team highs.
Meanwhile, the Worcester State women's soccer team qualified for the MASCAC tourney for the ninth straight year and earned the No. 2 seed. The Lancers (8-7-2) play the Bridgewater State/MCLA winner in the semis at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Worcester State women won the MASCAC championship in 2010, advanced to the final last year and went on to win the ECAC tourney championship.
Senior Brianne Beckman (13-6-32) and junior Gaby Gonet (10-7-27) lead the Lancers.