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Courtesy Salem State Sports Information

Salem, MA— Eryk Fernandez (Nipomo. CA) scored two goals to lead top-seeded Salem State to a 3-1 victory over the Bears of Bridgewater State University to advance to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship for the fourth straight year. Salem State will play No. 3 seed Westfield State, which defeated second seed Framingham State in penalty kicks, for an automatic NCAA berth on Sunday at Alumni Field at 1:00 PM. The Vikings improve to 11-6-1 on the year, while Bridgewater State ends their season at 9-9-1.

Bridgewater State almost took an early 1-0 lead when Simao Mendes (Brockton, MA) rifled a shot that was nearly deflected into the Salem State goal, but the Vikings' Scott Hall (Waltham, MA) made a leaping fingertip save to preserve the 0-0 tie.  Gaining momentum Salem State finally delivered at the 15:34 mark, when Saimir Zepaj (Peabody, MA) knocked in Fernandez's pass into the back right corner for a 1-0 lead. Later Carlos Escobar (Malden, MA) set up Fernandez with a perfect pass that Fernandez headed past Bridgewater goalie Matt Bagley (Braintree, MA) that put the Vikings up 2-0 at the half.

Bridgewater State got on the board in the 53rd minute after an own-goal by a Salem State player who accidently headed the ball past the goalie.  The Bears almost tied the game less than two minutes later on a corner kick, but the goal was disallowed because a Bridgewater State player was ruled offsides.  Fernandez then gave the Vikings some breathing room when he scored his second goal off a pass from Dimitri Flessas (Salem, MA) in the 60th minute to make the score 3-1.

The Vikings' Hall had four impressive saves while the Bears' Bagley also made four stops. Shots were tied at nine apiece, while both teams took two corners.

Salem State lost to Framingham State 2-0 in last year's MASCAC championship game.

Courtesy Framingham State Sports Information

Framingham, Mass. – The third seed Westfield State University men’s soccer team battled the second seed Framingham State University Rams to 1-1 double overtime tie and advanced on penalty kicks 3-1 this afternoon in one semifinal match of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men’s Soccer Championship at Maple Street Field.

The Owls improve to 8-9-2 on the season and advance to the finals of the MASCAC Men’s Soccer Championship to face the winner of the Salem State/Bridgewater State semifinal which is being played later this evening.  Framingham State falls to 9-6-3.

Framingham State had the first good scoring chance of the game midway through the first half when senior Jepherson Cardoso (Framingham, Mass.) stole the ball from an Owl defender and laid a pass off to sophomore Nick Cotter (Sandwich, Mass.).  Cotter had a clean look at the open net, but his shot sailed wide of the post.

Late in the half, the Owls had a chance to break the scoreless deadlock as junior Prince Sarpong (Worcester, Mass.) took a through ball behind the Rams defense.  Framingham State goalkeeper Sam Yoder (Southbridge, Mass.) made a diving save on Sarpong’s offering.
Westfield State broke through in the 49th minute on a penalty kick after a player was taken down in the box.  Senior Bill Lund (Monson, Mass.) fired a shot into the left corner for the 1-0 lead.

The lead was short lived as just four minutes later the Rams were awarded a penalty kick after a take down by the Owls in the box.  Sophomore Cory Cardeiro (Westport, Mass.) converted for the Rams with a low shot under the Owls diving goalkeeper tying the game with 36:22 remaining.

The Rams had a pair of chances to break the deadlock over the next three minutes, but failed to convert as Cardoso’s attempt was barely saved by the Owls goalkeeper Kris Carrington (Agawam, Mass.) and sophomore Bryan DaSilva’s (Milford, Mass.) attempt sailed inches above the cross bar.

Neither team would find the back of the net down the stretch and the game went to overtime tied at 1-1.  The Rams, who playing with a man advantage in the overtimes, had a pair of chances to score in the opening minutes of the first overtime, but Carrington came up with the save on a direct kick from senior Will Menter (Haverhill, Mass.) and DaSilva’s shot sailed just high.

With two minutes remaining in the first extra session, the Owls had their best chance at the game winner.  Lund took possession just over midfield, made a move past a defender and fired a laser on goal, but Yoder made a diving fingertip save to force the second overtime.
Each team took two shots in the second overtime, but none found the back of the net sending the game to penalty kicks.

The Rams went first and their attempt was saved by Carrington, but Yoder answered with a diving save on the Owls first attempt.  Framingham’s second PK went right to the goal keeper and junior Dan Brady (Wilbraham, Mass.) beat Yoder with a shot inside the left corner.  The Rams next attempt was missed and sophomore Dom Cavallini (Springfield, Mass.) faked right and shot left to put the Owls up 2-0 with two kicks remaining.  Cardeiro kept the Rams alive by converting his attempt, but Lund sealed the victory for the Owls when he converted on the Owls fourth attempt.