MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME MEN’S SOCCER

Friday, October 27, 2017

Clean Harbors Stadium, Buzzards Bay, Mass.

FINAL:              MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 1, WORCESTER STATE 0

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. --  Sophomore Adam Crawford’s (Kingston, Mass.) penalty kick conversion in the 74^th minute proved to be the game-winner as Massachusetts Maritime received a 10-save effort in goal from senior Mike Pruchnik (Rochester, Mass.) to post a 1-0 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s soccer victory over Worcester State Friday evening at Clean Harbors Stadium.

The triumph enabled the host Buccaneers (6-10-1, 4-3 MASCAC) to clinch the second seed and a bye into next Friday’s conference semifinal round which will be played at Clean Harbors Stadium against the winner of Tuesday’s quarterfinal round contest between the third and sixth seeded squads.  Massachusetts Maritime earned its fifth straight post-season berth and fourth appearance in the MASCAC semifinals in the last five years with tonight’s result.

Crawford was fouled just inside the penalty area with just under 18 minutes remaining before converting his penalty kick opportunity in the right side of the net for his fourth goal of the season for the Buccaneers, and Pruchnik made that stand up by making seven second half saves to earn his fifth win and fourth clean sheet of the fall.  Senior Jason Barrett (Spencer, Mass.) made one stop in goal in the setback for the visiting Lancers (9-8, 4-3 MASCAC), as Worcester State outshot Massachusetts Maritime by a 17-7 margin overall (10-2 on goal) and held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks for the contest.

Salem State has clinched the MASCAC regular season title and the top seed in next week’s tournament, which will also feature Worcester State, Framingham State, Westfield State and Bridgewater State.  Complete conference playoff pairings and schedules will be announced over the weekend.