Worcester, MA- With the conclusion of the regular season , the MASCAC Playoffs began on Tuesday night. The third seed Worcester State Lancers (7-10, 6-4) welcomes four the fourth time in two years the Salem State Vikings (2-14, 0-10) to Coughlin Field. Earlier in the season Worcester would claim two wins off the Vikings, the first a 6-0 victory in mid-October before wrapping up the season in Salem just three days ago with a 4-1 win in Worcester's favor. This is the second season in a row the Vikings have met the Lancers in the playoffs after Salem upset Fitchburg State 4-3 last season in the MASCAC Quarterfinals to meet Worcester in the Semifinals. 

Final:

Salem State: 2

Worcester State: 5

How it Happened:

Worcester and Salem State were very evenly matched in the opening period of action. Worcester would manage to string together a touch more offensive in the quarter as they recorded eight attempts on frame but the Viking keeper would limit any of the danger. Salem would have chances of their own, as they claimed two corners to the Lancers three in the first 15 but the pressure in the circle would see the attempts minimized.  

Salem came out firing in the second period less than five minutes in, sophomore Allison Thomas (Carver, MA) would put the ball into the back of the net with the assist from first year Grace Morey (Danvers, MA). After some back and forth in the midfield, Worcester would find a path to respond and to tie the score up with nine minutes left in the period,junior Maggie Nailor (Dartmouth, MA) would take a strong strike that would careen towards cage, stalling just shy of the line where senior Natalya Morin (Barre, MA) helped the ball find its way to the boards. With both teams battling hard, no further goals would leave the score tied up at half time 1-1. 

The third period would start much like the first, with both squads battling for control and having equal opportunities to score. Worcester State will be the first to score this period, after some chaos in front of Salem's net N. Morin would again guide the ball across the threshold off a pass from junior Allison Keenan (Marlborough MA), finding an opening and taking a shot making the score 2-1. Worcester was not done yet when junior Charlotte MacGregor (Bellingham, MA) drove it down the middle and took a shot sending the ball in 3-1. Within a minute Worcester was able to snag another point when senior Madison Avilla (Westport, MA) would make a hard pull right in the circle to avoid the defensive pressure, sending the ball sailing past the sophomore Izzy Mosley's (Middleborough, MA) right foot furthering their lead 4-1. 

This final period would see both teams come out strong and the Vikings looking to get themselves back into the action. Worcester was not ready to give up their offensive ways off chaos in the circle as first year Rihanna Morin (Burrillville, RI) would send the ball around Mosley and the defensive pressure with the help of MacGregor to extend the lead to 5-1. After a long and strong battle that would never see Salem concede, they managed to find their opportunity to score as Thomas scored her second point but as time clicked down Worcester would solidify their advancement and the 5-2 victory.

Mosley would end the night with 12 saves while senior Madison Ferrara would come away with two.

What is Next:

With tonight's conclusion Worcester State (8-10, 6-4) will advance to a meeting with #2 seed Westfield State at 7pm in the MASCAC Semifinal round on Thursday.