Worcester, Mass. – Worcester State University captured the 2022 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men's Soccer Tournament title as the third-seeded Lancers edged #4 seed Bridgewater State University in a shootout on Sunday in the tournament title game at Coughlin Field.
The game is officially recorded as a tie as the two teams played to 1-1 draw through regulation and two overtime periods. The Lancers (10-3-7) edged the Bears in the shootout, 5-4.
Worcester now advances to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time since 2016 and for the seventh time in program history.
BSU sophomore forward Ethan Lafontant (Chelmsford, Mass.) scored with just 16 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. With time winding down on the Bears' season, junior midfielder Ethan DeMelo (Acushnet, Mass.) sent a long volley from midfield to Lafontant who deflected the ball over to freshman midfielder Filippo Mucci (Vineyard Haven, Mass.) at the top of the 18. Mucci pushed the ball forward off a Worcester defender to Lafontant who slipped a shot past the oncoming Lancer netminder and into the back of the net for his second goal in as many games.
After a scoreless first half, Worcester broke the ice in the 55th minute as sophomore forward Mal Hawkins (Los Angeles, Calif.) found the back of the net from the left side of the 18 off a crossing pass from freshman midfielder Taylor Gavaletz (Dudley, Mass.).
The Lancers would cling to the 1-0 lead until Lafontant's late game heroics.
Both teams recorded one shot in the first overtime session as each attempt went wide of the cage. Bears' junior midfielder Will Halben (Attleboro, Mass.) had the best chance in overtime as his close-range shot was off the mark. The Lancers had the only shot of the second overtime period, but BSU senior netminder William Russell (Sandwich, Mass.) made a nice leaping stop with the clock winding down.
In the penalty kick session, Russell made an outstanding diving stop on Worcester's first attempt to give the visitors the early advantage. The Bears converted on their first three shootout attempts as senior forward Robson Montrond (Brockton, Mass.), sophomore midfielder Carsten Boloz (Southborough, Mass.) and freshman midfielder Gavin Norton (Rockland, Mass.) each found the back of the net. Trailing 3-2 in the shootout, graduate midfielder Alexander Papageorgiou (Tewksbury, Mass.) converted for the Lancers to even things up before junior goalkeeper Andy Ramirez (Waltham, Mass.) made a diving save on the Bears' fourth attempt. Each team would make their fifth kick with junior midfielder Manny Ramirez (Waltham, Mass.) converting for the Lancers and junior defender Jacob Ramos (Medford, Mass.) for the Bears. Junior midfielder Ethan Escobar (Paxton, MA) gave Worcester a 5-4 lead in the sixth round of the shootout. Moments later, the Lancers were on their way to the NCAA Tournament when Bridgewater's final attempt clanged off the crossbar.
Worcester held a 18-16 shot advantage for the game as well as a 5-1 edge in corner kick attempts.
Russell finished with nine saves on the evening, while Ramirez turned aside four shots.
The Bears ends the season with an overall record of 7-8-4.
Notes: The Bears and the Lancers have met nine times (4-4-1) in the MASCAC Tournament and five times in the conference championship game.