WESTFIELD, Mass. – After surrendering a goal in the second minute of play, Westfield State scored two unanswered goals in the first half, defeating Worcester State, 2-1, in MASCAC league play at Alumni Field on Saturday.
Westfield State improves to 5-7-1 with the win, moving into second place in the MASCAC standings with a 4-1 league record. With the loss, Worcester State drops to 4-8-1 overall, 2-3 in the MASCAC.
Worcester State opened the scoring on a corner kick in the second minute of action. Lancers midfielder Ryan Kinsella (Wilmington, Mass.) headed the corner kick in front of the goal area, where junior forward Ramdal Mendez (Attleboro, Mass.) outjumped the Owls defense to head home the goal.
Westfield State evened the score on a corner kick of its own in the 28th minute. Senior forward Kevin Bengle (West Springfield, Mass.) played the corner to the top of the box, where sophomore Sean Lathrop (Agawam, Mass.) redirected the ball to freshman forward Brodie Keene (Agawam, Mass.), who beat the goalkeeper with a left-footed shot.
With less than eight minutes remaining in the first half, Owls senior midfielder Jack Fisher (Rehoboth, Mass.) scored what turned out to be the game-winner on a penalty shot after a Lancers handball in the box. Fisher beat Lancers' goalkeeper Jason Barrett (Spencer, Mass.) with a waist-high shot to the near post for his first goal of the season.
Barrett and Westfield State sophomore goalkeeper Alex Kraver (West Springfield, Mass.) each made five saves in the match. Kraver made a diving save on a shot from Lancers sophomore midfielder Andre Ipojuca (Saugus, Mass.) midway through the second half to preserve the Owls' lead.
Worcester State outshot Westfield State, 18-14, but the Owls put seven shots on goal to the Lancers six.
Worcester State returns to action on Tuesday with a non-conference matchup against Pine Manor on their home field posted for a 7:00 p.m. start time. The Lancers will return to MASCAC action next weekend as they will face Salem State at 10:00 a.m. on their home field for senior day.
Release Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information
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