Click here to see highlights of Connor McInnis's winning goal

MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME MEN’S SOCCER

2013 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Quarterfinals

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Clean Harbors Stadium, Buzzards Bay, Mass.

FINAL:                   MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 1, SALEM STATE 0

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. --  Sophomore Connor McInnis’s (Duxbury, Mass.) goal with 1:46 remaining lifted fourth-seeded Massachusetts Maritime to a 1-0 victory over fifth-seeded Salem State in quarterfinal round action of the 2013 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Championships Tuesday evening at Clean Harbors Stadium.

With their first post-season victory in school history, the host Buccaneers, now 8-8-2 overall on the season, advance to Friday night’s MASCAC semifinal round to take on top-seeded Worcester State at Coughlin Field in Worcester, Mass. beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Earlier today, third-seeded Bridgewater State also advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 triumph over sixth-seeded Fitchburg State at Swenson Field in Bridgewater, Mass., as the Bears will take on second-seeded Framingham State at Maple Street Field in Framingham, Mass. Friday morning at 11:00 a.m.  The visiting Vikings, who were bidding for their fifth straight appearance in the conference championship match, wrap up their season with an overall mark of 3-13-1.

McInnis converted a feed from junior Stuart Kinsman (Granville, Mass.), who dribbled in from the left side of the cage and deflected the pass on the golden goal, McInnis’s fourth of the season and third game-winner.  Freshman Joe Cohen (Plymouth, Mass.) made that stand up in net for Massachusetts Maritime, as he recorded a pair of saves, including a point blank stop with just over 20 minutes remaining, to pick up his sixth victory and fourth shutout of the season for the Buccaneers.

Junior Nondas Kargakis (Heraklion, Greece) made five saves in the setback for Salem State, including three in the opening half of play to keep the contest scoreless.  Massachusetts Maritime outshot the Vikings by a 12-7 margin (6-2 on goal) and held a 6-1 advantage in corners for the evening in defeating Salem State for the second time this season after not posting a win over the visitors in the previous nine years.  The triumph also came in the Buccaneers’ first post-season appearance since 2004, as Massachusetts Maritime dropped a 2-0 decision to Bridgewater State in their only other playoff match in school history that year in the MASCAC semifinals.

The Buccaneers will look to avenge a 4-1 setback suffered to Worcester State at Clean Harbors Stadium back on October 12^th on Friday evening.  The two semifinals winners will meet for the MASCAC tournament title and the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championships at the site of the highest remaining seed on Sunday afternoon.