Worcester, MA --- Senior Derek Alves (Ludlow, MA) potted the game-clinching marker in the 44th minute with help from classmate Phil Cepeda (Southbridge, MA) to propel top-seeded Worcester State past #4 Mass Maritime, 2-0, in the MASCAC men's soccer tournament semi-finals this evening at Coughlin Field.
With the victory the Lancers (11-3-4) move on to face third-seeded Bridgewater State at 1 PM in Sunday's Championship game at Coughlin Field. Earlier this afternoon the Bears upset #2 Framingham State, 1-0, to punch their ticket to the title bout.
WSU makes thier sixth MASCAC title appearance since 2001. The last time they made a run for the crown was in 2005 when they won all the marbles and went to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The Buccaneers see their strong season come to an end at 8-9-2 with the defeat.
MMA almost grabbed an early lead when sophomore Connor McInnis (Duxbury, MA) darted toward the center of the box and let loose from 25 yards out, but his shot sailed just high and over the crossbar in the eighth minute.
The Blue and Gold though tilted the score in their favor when Cepeda delivered a beautiful feed on a give-and-go play with Alves who was able to beat the keeper on the far side in the 44th minute for the 1-0 advantage at the break.
Mass Maritime came out of the intermission poised to tie the game on a free kick from 25 yards out.
Junior Rob Robbs' (Braintree, MD attempt to pick the top left corner, however, was denied by sophomore keeper Nick Zucco (Ludlow, MA). Zucco made a brilliant leaping stop redirecting the ball off the post with his left hand.
The loose ball then found the foot of senior Jake Soifert (Rehoboth, MA), but his attempt found the side of the net and Worcester State maintained their margin in the 47th minute.
The Lancers recorded an insurance tally when senior Brian Cormier (Hudson, MA) connected with classmate Alex Wolfel (Unionville, CT) who streaked across the box from the right side and was able to beat the keeper bottom right for the 2-0 edge in the 60th minute.
Robbs had another late bid in the 82nd minute only to be stonewalled by Zucco who preserved his seventh shutout to tie for the second most in the MASCAC.
Zucco stopped all four shots he saw while his counterpart, freshman Joe Cohen (Plymouth, MA), also recorded four saves in the setback.
The Blue and Gold outshot the Bucs 18-12 (6-4 on goal) and each team had a pair of corner kicks.
With his helper this evening Cormier now leads the conference in the category outright while Wolfel is tied with his teammate, senior Brendan Whitson (Auburn, MA), for the league lead in points with 27.
Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant
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