Buzzards Bay, Mass.— Salem State University has earned the top seed in the 2012 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Championships, which begin with quarterfinal round action on Wednesday, October 31st before moving to semi-final round play on Friday, November 2nd and conclude with the 2012 MASCAC Championship match on Sunday, November 4th.

This year’s championships have expanded from a four-team to a six-team format, as Wednesday’s quarterfinal round will see third-seeded Westfield State University host sixth-seeded Fitchburg State University at Alumni Field in Westfield, Mass. beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT, while fourth-seeded Bridgewater State University will host fifth-seeded Worcester State University at Swenson Field in Bridgewater, Mass. beginning at 2:00 p.m. EDT. The winner of the Westfield State-Fitchburg State match advances to take on second-seeded Framingham State in one semi-final round contest on Friday afternoon at Maple Street Field in Framingham, Mass. beginning at 2:00 p.m., while the Bridgewater State-Worcester State winner will take on top-seeded Salem State in the other semi-final match on Friday evening at Alumni Field in Salem, Mass. beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT. The two semi-final winners will meet for the 2012 MASCAC Championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championships on Sunday at the site of the highest remaining seed at a time to be determined.

Salem State finished with a 10-6-1 overall mark and shared the conference regular season crown with Framingham State at 6-1 under Head Coach Don Goodwin, as the Vikings are led in scoring by junior forward Eryk Fernandez (Nipomo, Calif.), who leads the league with 12 goals and 27 points. Senior Scott Hall (Waltham, Mass.) has collected eight wins (five shutouts) and posted a 1.21 GAA for Salem State as well. Defending tournament champion Framingham State notched a 9-6-2 regular season mark to go with a 6-1 conference slate under Head Coach Dean Nichols, as senior forward Jepherson Cardoso (Framingham, Mass.) paces the Rams in scoring with 10 goals for 20 points while fellow senior Sam Yoder (Southbridge, Mass.) has notched eight wins (four shutouts) and posted a 1.28 GAA.

Westfield State notched seven wins and a 5-2 MASCAC mark under Head Coach John Evans, and the Owls are led by in scoring by seniors Jared Spicer (Carver, Mass.) and Jon Principato (Stoneham, Mass.), who have each notched three goals and nine points. Junior Kris Carrington (Agawam, Mass.) has notched five wins and a league-best 1.03 GAA for Westfield State this fall. Bridgewater State collected eight triumphs and posted a 3-3-1 conference slate under Head Coach Brendan Adams, as the Bears are paced in scoring by seniors Braima Samati (Boston, Mass.) and Simao Mendes (Brockton, Mass.), who each have 11 points, and in net by junior Matt Bagley’s (Braintree, Mass.) 1.32 GAA.

Worcester State notched four overall victories, including a pair of wins and two ties in MASCAC action, under Head Coach Jason Willis, and the Lancers are led in scoring by junior forward Brendan Whitson’s (Auburn, Mass.) with eight goals and 21 points and in net by freshman Nick Zucco (Ludlow, Mass.), who has made 68 saves to date. Fitchburg State rounds out this year’s MASCAC championship field, as the Falcons of Head Coach Werner Thissen collected five overall wins and two in league play. Senior midfielder Jason Pereira (Wilmington, Mass.) leads Fitchburg State in scoring with five goals and 12 points, while sophomore Aidan Hanratty (East Bridgewater, Mass.) has made 102 saves in goal.

Framingham State claimed the 2011 MASCAC crown with a 2-0 victory over Salem State in the championship match.