Framingham State, Salem State Move On in 2023 MASCAC Men's Soccer Tournament
Framingham State and Salem State advance to the semifinal round of the 2023 MASCAC Men's Soccer Tournament after winning their quarterfinal contests on Tuesday.
Framingham State and Salem State advance to the semifinal round of the 2023 MASCAC Men's Soccer Tournament after winning their quarterfinal contests on Tuesday.
#3 Salem State 2, #6 Fitchburg State 0 Box Score
SALEM, Mass. -- Third seeded Salem State defeated six seeded Fitchburg State by a score of 2-0 in MASCAC quarterfinal action on Tuesday at Alumni Field. The Vikings improved their season record to 12-4-3, while the Falcons finished 4-11-3. Salem State will head to second seeded Westfield State on Friday for a semifinal match at 7:00 PM.
The game started off with both teams aggressively attacking each other's zones. Salem State had a corner kick, and Brendan Walsh (Westford, Mass.) delivered a perfect pass as Aaron O'Toole (Quincy, Mas.) and Brendan Davis (Dracut, Mass.) both executed back-to-back headers in an attempt to score.
The Vikings' Landon Picillo (Warwick, R.I.) fired a shot from ten yards out, but Fitchburg's Luke Speers (Collegeville, Pa.) managed to make a glove save. A few minutes later, Picillo made a brilliant pass to Davis, who tried to score, but Jahua Atemkeng (Peabody, Mass.) managed to block the shot.
Dylan Senra (Dartmouth, Mass.) scored on a free kick, which put the Vikings ahead 1-0 forty minutes into the game. Salem State had two opportunities to extend their lead when Picillo and Walaeddine Hounane (Salem, N.H.) just missed from 15 yards out.
At the half Hauntsman saved two shots goal while Speers saved three of four shots goal. Salem State had five corner kicks compared to Fitchburg's none.
At the start of the second half, Salem State controlled play in the the Falcons' zone. Davis sprinted towards the net, looking to extend Salem State's lead, but Speers kept up with him and Davis couldn't put one inside the net. Later, O'Toole ripped a shot that Speers deflected with his right foot and made a nice save.
Sixty-three minutes into the game, Fitchburg State's Francesco Campione (Newton, Mass.) took a header, causing keeper Hauntsman to slide to the left side to catch the ball mid-air. The Falcons then attempted to score off a corner kick, but they couldn't put one inside that would've tied the game as the ball sailed high. Hauntsman then made a diving save near the right corner of the net to prevent the tying goal.
Late in the game, Davis and Speers collided while Davis was on a breakaway. Senra took the penalty kick and beat Speers, extending the Vikings' lead to 2-0.
Hauntsman saved all 10 of his shots, while Speers saved 10 of 12 shots. Salem State had 13 corner kicks throughout the game, while Fitchburg had six. The Vikings had four offsides, while the Falcons had none.
#4 Framingham State 3, #5 Worcester State 1 Box Score
Framingham, Mass. – The fourth seeded Framingham State men's soccer team scored two long range goals in overtime to defeat the #5 seed Worcester State in the first round of the 2023 MASCAC Tournament by a score of 3-1 Tuesday evening at Maple Street Field. The Rams advance to the MASCAC semifinal on Friday at top-seeded Bridgewater State.
THE BASICS:
- Score: Framingham State 3, Worcester State 1 (OT)
- Records: #4 Framingham State (11-7-1), #5 Worcester State (5-8-4)
- Location: Maple Street Field – Framingham, Mass.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Lancers had a great look in the 15th minute when Luke Anu's shot was saved by a diving save from Joseph Sturzo.
- A few moments later the Lancers got on the board when Wilber Garcia sent in a corner that deflected off a Rams defender and into the net.
- The Rams knotted up the score when Jeffson Malachie finished off a great setup from Gustav Hemmingsen to send the teams to the break tied at one.
- The Lancers had a good look in the 58th minute when the Lancers had a shot blocked after a corner kick and the rebound went right to the foot of the Worcester player but his shot went high.
- After a near miss on a freekick for the Rams with just over ten minutes to play the Lancers had a great look in transition but again Sturzo made a nice save to keep the game tied up. A few minutes later Worcester had yet another great chance but a Sturzo save and shot off the crossbar kept the Lancers off the board.
- With just over three minutes to go Andy Ramirez made a great save for the visitors on a deflection off a free kick to keep the Rams off the board.
- The Rams finally broke through in the 93rd minute when Hemmingsen sent a strike from about 30 yards out that snuck under the crossbar to give the Rams the overtime lead.
- A few moments later Kunphel Sinha sent in a strike from midfield that floated over the Lancer goalie who was playing forward in the defensive half to push the attack.
- The Lancers had a few good looks early in the second overtime but Sturzo kept them off the board as the Rams secured the victory
- Rams goalkeeper Joseph Sturzo made eight saves including a couple diving and sliding stops to keep the Rams in it.
- Worcester goalie Andy Raminez made two saves on the night for the Lancers.
- The Lancers controlled the offensive pace outshooting the Rams 25-to-11 in the contest and a 14-to-3 clip in the second frame but could not find that crucial score.
Releases courtesy of Framingham State and Salem State Sports Information