WORCESTER, Mass. - Worcester State showed true character with their come from behind 3-2 overtime victory over the MCLA Trailblazers. Bryan Brasil (Williamsburg, Mass.) led the comeback with two clutch goals, including the overtime winner to bring the Lancers to a 4-6-1 overall record, and 2-2-0 in MASCAC. The Trailblazers fell to 3-5-2 overall and 1-3-0 in MASCAC.
The game did not start off well for the blue and gold, as MCLA had total control of possession. It did not take long for the Trailblazers to get on the scoreboard when at 14:06 Kwadwo Kusi (Worcester, Mass.) received the ball and directed a pass to the trailing Sean Kenney (Glenville, NY). Kenney then dribbled the ball and gave a hard, low cross to the middle of the goal. Kusi was waiting and directed the ball to the left side of the goal, giving the Trailblazers a 1-0 lead.
About 15 minutes later MCLA would extend their lead resulting from an unlucky bounce off of the Worcester State defensive line. After a cross was sent in, the backline for the Lancers attempted to clear the ball out of the box, but instead the ball was blocked by Kusi. Kusi then one-timed the ball into the upper right corner to score his second goal of the game and give the Trailblazers a 2-0 lead.
Worcester State needed to answer early in the second half, and that is just what they did. After Matthew Dent (Ludlow, Mass.) sent in a long high throw into the box, Brasil headed the ball to the feet of George Siotis (Oxford, Mass.). Siotis then cleaned up the loose ball with a tap in goal to the right side and helped start the Lancer comeback, making the score 2-1 MCLA.
With time winding down, Worcester State needed a goal and a timely one. The blue and gold had many chances but could not seem to get the much needed tying goal. With less than seven minutes remaining, the Lancers got their timely, clutch goal. Brasil received a thru ball from, Jacob Jess (Douglas, Mass.) and dribbled the ball past the MCLA backline. Brasil only had the keeper to beat and placed the ball over the diving goalie, burying the ball into the left side netting and tying the game at two apiece. This goal sent the game into the always dreaded overtime.
Just over a minute into the overtime period Brasil finished the job with a sudden death goal. Ryan Kinsella (Wilmington, Mass.) dribbled towards the goal and laid a cross over the middle. Brasil timed his run and with the MCLA keeper down he was able to put the ball into the open goal and win the game for Worcester State.
MCLA's goalie Kamron Anderson (Springfield, Mass.) had two saves in the match and his record dropped to 2-6-2 on the year. Worcester State's Jason Barrett (Spencer, Mass.) made three stops and improved his record to 3-1-0 on the season.
The blue and gold next travel to Cambridge Wednesday to take on MIT for a 7:00 p.m. matchup.
Release written by Sports Information Intern, Connor Haynes