Westfield State’s Jack Fisher buries the game-winning goal against Worcester State. (Photo courtesy of Westfield State)
WESTFIELD – After surrendering a goal in the second minute of play, Westfield State scored two unanswered goals in the first half, defeating Worcester State, 2-1, in MASCAC league play on Homecoming weekend at Alumni Field Saturday.
Westfield State improves to 5-7-1 with the win, moving into second place in the MASCAC standings with a 4-1 league record. With the loss, Worcester State drops to 4-8-1 overall, 2-3 in the MASCAC.
Worcester opened the scoring on a corner kick in the second minute of action. Lancers midfielder Ryan Kinsella (Wilmington/ Wilmington, Mass.) headed the corner kick in front of the goal area, where junior forward Ramdal Mendez (Bishop Feehan/ Attleboro, Mass.) outjumped the Owls defense to head home the goal.
Westfield State evened the score on a corner kick of its own in the 28th minute. Senior forward Kevin Bengle (West Springfield/ West Springfield, Mass.) played the corner to the top of the box, where sophomore Sean Lathrop (Agawam/ Agawam, Mass.) redirected the ball to freshman forward Brodie Keene (Feeding Hills/ Agawam, Mass.), who beat the goalkeeper with a left-footed shot.
With less than eight minutes remaining in the first half, Owls senior midfielder Jack Fisher (Dighton-Rehoboth/Rehoboth, Mass.) scored what turned out to be the game-winner on a penalty shot after a Lancers handball in the box. Fisher beat Lancers goalkeeper Jason Barrett (David Prouty/ Spencer, Mass.) with a waist-high shot to the near post for his first goal of the season.
Barrett and Westfield State sophomore goalkeeper Alex Kraver (West Springfield/ West Springfield, Mass.) each made five saves in the match. Kraver made a diving save on a shot from Lancers sophomore midfielder Andre Ipojuca (Saugus/ Saugus, Mass.) midway through the second half to preserve the Owls’ lead.
Worcester State outshot Westfield State, 18-14, but the Owls put seven shots on goal to the Lancers six.
Westfield State returns to action on Wednesday, October 21, hosting Rhode Island College at 7 p.m. on Alumni Field.
