Worcester, MA- The Lancers opened up conference play today, traveling to North Adams to take on MCLA in a Friday night showdown under the
lights. Worcester State is looking to avenge last year's 2-1 loss thatopened up the conference slate last year.

It was a courageous battle on the turf during the first half, with each team racking up the miles as the ball quickly shifted from one
end of the pitch to the other.Junior Dylan Ruberti (Westbrook, MA) started in cage for the Lancers, who have been on a three goalie
rotation for most of the season, who nabbed his first save of the game in the 13' minute after previous attempts were stifled by his
defenders. Worcester States had their first major threat of the half in the 17' minute with a shot off the foot of first year Taylor
Gavaletz (Dudley, MA), forcing Trailblazers goalie Sam Edge to come up with the save. The 35' minute saw a corner kick taken by junior Manny
Ramirez (Waltham, MA) sail through the air to the head of first year Marley Perez-Adler (Heppenheim). Edge made the leaping save on the
shot, continuing the nill-nill stalemate of the half. Sophomore Matt Alzamora (Holden, MA) attempted his own header late in the half, but
the attempt travelled wide of the frame to send each team into the half with the tie holding.

It was a valiant second half for the Lancers as they continued to maintain possession and force the MCLA defense into some daring plays
to preserve the shutout. Worcester State knocked off six attempts on the cage before the Trailblazers managed their first attempt of the
half, a shot that ultimately travelled wide of the cage. The Lancer defense put MCLA offense on their back foot with their next three
attempts blocked up or traveling wide of the frame to help keep the score card clean. The solid defense pressure allowed the Lancer
offense to continue their attacking pressure, securing the first goal of the game in the 82' minute from the stellar foot of Gavaletz. The
loan goal was all that was needed for Worcester State to seal the conference win.

Worcester State outshot the Trailblzers 16-11 on the night with Perez-Adler and Gavaletz leading the team with two shots on goal.
Ruberti made three saves on the night, moving his overall record to 3-1 on the season.

MCLA falls to 3-3-0 and 0-1-0 in the conference, while Worcester State moves to 3-2-1 and 1-0-0. The squad is next in action going for win
number four, to surpass their total from last year, on September 20 when they travel back out west to face Springfield College at 7pm.