Springfield, MA --- Lasell sophomore Conor Fitzgerald (Marshfield, MA) potted the match-clinching goal in the 77th minute as the second-seeded Lasers defeated #3 Worcester State, 3-2, in an ECAC Division III Soccer Tournament Semifinal this afternoon at Springfield College.

With the victory, Lasell moves to 17-3-2 on the year and advances to the ECAC Championship tomorrow at 12 PM to face-off with top-seeded Springfield College who defeated #4 Norwich, 2-0, in earlier action.

The Lancers see their season come to an end in the setback as they finish with an overall mark of 12-5-4 on the year.

The Lasers wasted little time jumping out to a 2-0 lead midway through the first half with a pair of unassisted markers by senior Mike Skelton (Conway, NH). Skelton found the back of the net in the 13th minute to open the scoring off a free kick.

Just six minutes later he ripped another free kick from 25-yards out, into the upper corner for a 2-0 lead. Skelton tallied his 22nd tally of the season for the Lasers.

Worcester State responded late in the period to cut the deficit in half when senior Brendan Whitson (Auburn, MA) connected with classmate Brian Cormier (Hudson, MA) for a cross on the right side. Cormier took one touch and beat the keeper on the near post for his third goal of the year in the 38th minute.

The Blue and Gold used that momentum coming out of the intermission as Whitson blasted the equalizer for the 2-2 score, beating the keeper on the far side with help from senior Alex Wolfel (Unionville, CT) just 47 ticks into the second frame.

The Lasers were able to regain their one-goal margin in the 77th minute when senior Lawrence Fagan (Weymouth, MA) gave a great feed across the box to Fitzgerald who buried it into the left side for the 3-2 tally.

Worcester State continued to run hard and had a couple late bids, but shots from senior Phil Cepeda (Southbridge, MA) and freshman Ramdal Mendez (Attleboro, MA) in the final ten minutes, however, each sailed wide and out of harms way to preserve the score.

Lasell sophomore net-minder Miguel Colmenares (Caracas, Venezuela) recorded four saves in the victory while second-year Nick Zucco (Ludlow, MA) stopped five shots for the Lancers.

Lasell held the slim 11-10 lead in shots as Worcester State notched the 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant

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