By John R. Johnson, Globe South Notebook
November 1, 2012
Worcester, MA --- Brianne Beckman often takes a lead role in the scoring attack for the women's soccer team at Worcester State University.
On Saturday, the senior forward from Lakeville was happy to take a backseat to freshman Alicia Macomber.
Macomber, a graduate of Stoughton High, scored the winning goal in the 103d minute of double overtime to hand Worcester State a 3-2 victory over host Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and earn a first-round bye in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference playoffs.
"MCLA kept Brianne off the stat sheet, but she was dangerous numerous times," said Worcester State coach Kevin Cumberbatch. "She is always somebody you have to worry about. Even if she doesn't make the score sheet, she is still working hard behind the scenes.
"As for Alicia, she's a very talented freshman who has stepped up in some big situations. That was certainly a huge overtime win for us."
Worcester State (8-7-2, 5-1-1 MASCAC) has seen most of its offensive firepower this season come from Beckman, who has registered 13 goals and six assists, tops on the team. She is ranked second in the MASCAC in goals and ranks third with 32 points.
A 2009 graduate of Apponoquet Regional, Beckman put together a very productive month of October and was honored as co-MASCAC Player of the Week after netting 12 points during three games two weeks ago.
The 5-foot-4 forward had two goals and a pair of assists in an 8-1 victory over Plymouth State and scored the lone goal in a 1-1 double overtime tie with Colby-Sawyer. Beckman added two tallies in a 6-2 win over Fitchburg State in a key MASCAC game.
"She's been a model player for the program on and off the field," said Cumberbatch. "She's a three-time All-Academic recipient in the MASCAC with one of the most difficult majors (occupational therapy) at the university.
"On the field, her vision is just outstanding. She does a great job of reading the defense and making correct runs at the right time. That's one reason why she has so many assists. She sees things happening and has the ability to put the ball in the right spots to make her teammates successful."
Beckman recorded a team-high seven helpers as a junior. While she is still relied on as a playmaker, her goal production has more than tripled from last year, making her a major target for opposing defenses.
"I feel like I have a man mark pretty often, and there's definitely more pressure this year," said Beckman. "I try to just brush it off just and not let it bother me. Hopefully, I'm going to out run the other person."
Beckman's offensive output has improved dramatically each season (she had one goal and two assists as a sophomore), and she is now chasing several school scoring records. She is three goals shy of tying the program's single-season record (16), and is two assists away from tying the single season assists record (8). She needs four points to break the single-season mark of 35 set in 1993.
In 71 career games, Beckman has 21 markers and 17 assists for 59 points. She hopes for a long playoff run not only to allow her to chase the record books, but to meet the team goal of playing in the Division 3 NCAA tourney. Last year the Lancers lost in the MASCAC final but went on to win the ECAC title.
"That would mean the world to me," Beckman said of an NCAA bid. "Last year it was tough not finishing out the MASCAC tournament. We lost in the finals, so we're absolutely looking forward to finishing out the MASCAC this time and getting redemption for last year. We're definitely looking forward to a long tourney run."
Macomber has four goals and four assists, and the MCLA tally was her second game-winner of the season. She also had an assist in the MCLA game.