WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State women's soccer team honored members of their Senior Class on Friday evening before defeating Massachusetts Maritime 4-0 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) game at John F. Coughlin Field.
In an on-field ceremony, the Lancers recognized the contributions of Jordan Bailey (Monson, Mass.), Alana Garofalo (Berlin, Conn.), Tori Socci (Blackstone, Mass.), Fiona Weir (Dorchester, Mass.), Kassandra Liquori (Enfield, Conn.), Ali Maldonado (Rutland, Mass.), Hannah Foster (Worcester, Mass.), Leah Fitzgerald (Upton, Mass.), Ashley Spellman (Lancaster, Mass.), and Megan Gurlitz (Auburn, Mass.).
With the victory in their regular season finale, the Lancers (8-6-2) improve to 5-1-1 in the MASCAC and clinch the #2 seed. They will get a bye in the MASCAC tournament and host a semifinal game on Friday, November 6th. Time and opponent are still TBD.
Four seniors scored in the win, while Spellman earned her sixth shutout of the season and improved to 8-5-2 in the net.
The Lancers pressured Mass. Maritime early and often, outshooting them 10-0 in the opening 20 minutes.
On the eleventh shot of the game, the home team broke through when Fitzgerald floated a shot from 25 yards out past Jackie Damery (Plympton, Mass.) for her third goal of the season.
With 16 minutes left in the half, Maldonado dribbled into the box, picked the far corner and put the ball off the post and into the back of the net for her team-leading sixth goal of the year.
Gurlitz gave the home team a 3-0 lead in the 38th minute as she slotted home her fourth of the season.
Weir collected her first goal of the season with five minutes remaining when she knocked home a loose ball on a rebound at the goal line.
Spellman needed just two saves to keep the clean sheet. Worcester State outshot the Buccaneers 24-3 and 12-2 on goal. They had a 7-0 edge in corner kicks as well.
Damery made 8 saves for the Buccaneers, who see their season end with a record of 2-10-2 (0-5-2 MASCAC).