Worcester State 4, Westfield State 3
Worcester, MA --- Senior midfielder Matt Brothers (Auburn, MA) sent in the go-ahead goal in the 80th minute to help lead Worcester State, 4-3, over Westfield State in a wildly entertaining MASCAC match this afternoon at Coughlin Stadium.
The Lancers end a seven game losing streak and six-game scoreless skid by improving their record to 5-8-2 and 2-3 in the conference. With the loss, the Owls drop to 5-6-2 and 1-2-2 in the MASCAC.
Senior Brian Andrade (Hudson, MA) propelled the Blue and Gold with two markers in the first half to put WSC up 2-0 at the intermission. Classmate Constantino Patramanis (Worcester, MA) dished out a helper on the first goal in the 18th and Andrade scored the second tally on an unassisted breakaway in the 34rd.
After halftime, Andrade notched the hat trick and his MASCAC leading 10th goal in the 57th on a penalty shot.
But the Owls would not go away as they would record three goals over the next 20 minutes to tie the score. Freshman Jon Caldwell (S. Windsor, CT) got things going for Westfield State as he scored just 40 seconds after Andrade's goal, when he took a cross from classmate Tim Parsons (Buzzards Bay, MA). Caldwell put the pressure on the Lancers when he scored an unassisted goal in the 74th minute.
Owl's freshman Sam Labonte (Westhampton, MA) sent in the equalizer in the 77th when he scored on a shot that hit the post from Caldwell.
That set the stage for Brothers heroics just three minutes later, to put the Lancers up 4-3. The defense for the Blue and Gold would stiffen did not allow another shot for the rest of the game.
Westfield State finished with slight edge in shots, 24-19, while also leading in corners, 7-1. There were also five yellow cards between both sides in the contest.
In his second start of the year, WSC sophomore Evan Wilga (Dudley, MA) notched eight saves between the pipes while his counterpart, senior Mike Thompson (Feeding Hills, MA), registered four stops. Worcester State also finished with three team saves while the Owls added one.
Both teams will play away games on Wednesday. Worcester State will travel to Norton, MA to face off against regionally ranked Wheaton at 3 o'clock while Westfield State will play RIC at 4 PM.