Worcester, MA --- Third-seeded Bridgewater State and #2 Worcester State drew to a scoreless tie in double overtime, but the Bears prevailed in penalty kicks this evening in the semifinals of the MASCAC Women's Soccer Tournament at Coughlin Field.
Bridgewater State moves on to Sunday's championship game to take on top-seed an unbeaten Westfield State, who defeated #4 Salem State, 2-0, earlier this evening.
It marks the second time in the last three seasons that the Bears have made an appearance in the title game as they last played for the crown during their 2010 campaign.
With the tie this evening, the Lancers wrap up their season at 8-7-3 overall.
In the opening frame, Worcester State had two chances to take over the lead. Sophomore Therese Morss (Marion, MA) was alone on the left side of the field following a long pass from the WSU 35-yardline by junior Brittany Rotatori (Auburn, MA) in the 26th minute.
However, Bridgewater State keeper Kerry Condon (Whitman, MA) came out of the net to make a tremendous sliding stop to keep the game right where it was.
Towards the end of the period, first-year Jackie Connors (Ashland, MA) also had a great opportunity on a middle cross by classmate Alicia Macomber (Stoughton, MA), but Condon diagnosed the play beautify and used the fingertips of her left hand to deflect the ball out of harm's way.
Bridgewater State had just one chance in the first period as two of their first three bids were blocked by the Lancer defense.
Senior Melanie Thompson (Abington, MA) had a good look in the middle from 20-yards away following a feed from the right side by freshman Mackenzie Hatfield (Whitman, MA), but first-year net minder Mia Koutoulas (Danvers, MA) snatched the ball to end the play.
Neither team had any quality chances on net in both the final 45 minutes of regulation and in the two subsequent overtime periods.
In the penalty kick session, both teams were tied 3-3 headed into the fifth round. WSU freshman Amanda Pruyn (Tyngsboro, MA) booted a shot that was destined for the left side of the net, but it was rejected by Condon. That set the stage for sophomore Emily Lane (Parsonsfeild, ME) who ended the contest to help the Bears advance to the championship game with a blast to the right corner.
Worcester State held the slight lead in shots (14-12 – 7-3 on goal) while both squads attempted two corners apiece.
The Lancer back line which was anchored by Rotatori, senior Mariah Messina (Tewksbury, MA) along with junior teammates Carolyn Hassett (Charlton, MA) and Makayla Moran (Leominster, MA) did an outstanding job in the final 30 minutes through the extra session to keep the Bears offense at bay.
Condon stopped all seven shots she was called upon to make in her second shutout of the season and the ninth for the team on the campaign. Koutoulas collected three saves as it marks the second opponent that she has blanked in 2012.