Men’s Soccer Eliminated From MASCAC Tournament with 1-0 Loss to Bridgewater State
Framingham, Mass. – The third seed Bridgewater State University men's soccer team upset second seed Framingham State University 1-0 in one semifinal of the 2013 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men's Soccer Championship this morning at Maple Street Field.
With the victory, Bridgewater State (8-7-3) advances to the MASCAC Tournament Final on Sunday where they will faces the winner of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy/Worcester State University semifinal that is being played later this evening. This is the Bears fifth appearance in the MASCAC Tournament Final with the last occurring in 2007. The Rams conclude the 2013 season 7-12-1.
The Bears started the first half with an offensive flurry and had a chance to take the early lead just under 15 minutes into the frame. Sophomore Justin Kachadoorian (Leicester, Mass.) sent a cross into the box that senior Colin Neri (Upton, Mass.) headed at the goal. Framingham State University junior goalkeeper William Levitsky (Westford, Mass.) deflected the ball off the cross bar. The rebound went right to junior Steve McAvoy (Walpole, Mass.) who fired a shot. Levitsky came up with the diving-punch save to keep the game scoreless.
Bridgewater State finally broke through at the 21 minute mark when sophomore Conor Murtagh (Walpole, Mass.) headed in a cross from Kachadoorian for the 1-0 lead.
The Rams had a chance for the equalizer with just over 19 minutes remaining in the first as junior Maycon Malta (Milford, Mass.) sent a cross through the box with the Bridgewater State goaltender out of position, but a Bridgewater defender was able to clear the ball before the Rams could get off a shot.
The Rams had a pair of chances to tally the equalizer in the second half, but were unable to find the net. With just under 19 minutes remaining in the game, junior Bryan DaSilva (Milford, Mass.) took a direct kick from the left sideline and sent it into the box. Junior Nicholas Cotter (Sandwich, Mass.) one touched the ball and his bid sailed just wide of the net.
Cotter had a second opportunity to tie the score with 13 minutes left in the game on a hit from 30 yards out, but this attempt went just high. The Rams had one final opportunity with 2:41 on the clock as freshman Fabricio Kuhnen (Ashland, Mass.) lofted a shot which sailed high.
The Bears outshot the Rams 16-6 in the game with senior goalkeeper Matt Bagley (Braintree, Mass.) picked up the shutout victory without making a save. Levitsky finished the game with seven saves for the Rams and was tagged with the loss.