WORCESTER, Mass. -- 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 and unbeaten Westfield State, who defeated #4 Salem State, 2-0, earlier this evening. Bridgewater will be competing in the conference title game for the eighth time in the 13-year history of the tournament. The Bears are the only team to compete in each of the first 13 MASCAC Tournaments.
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. The Lancers await word on an ECAC bid as they move to 8-7-3 on the season.
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 beautifully 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 back 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) ripped a shot that was earmarked for the left side of the net, but it was rejected by Condon. That set the stage for sophomore Emily Lane (Parsonsfield, 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.
Condon stopped all seven shots she was called upon to make as she recorded her second shutout of the season and ninth for the team. The nine shutouts is second only to the school record of ten set by the 1993 squad. Condon also extended her shutout streak to 249 minutes and 18 seconds. Koutoulas collected three saves as it marks the second opponent that she has blanked in 2012.