MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME MEN’S SOCCER

2016 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Semifinals

Friday, November 4, 2016

Clean Harbors Stadium, Buzzards Bay, Mass.

FINAL:              FITCHBURG STATE 2, MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 1

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. --  Sophomore Marckdonard Bastien’s (Worcester, Mass.) goal in the 57^th minute proved to be the game-winner as sixth-seeded Fitchburg State held on in the closing minutes to notch a 2-1 victory over second-seeded Massachusetts Maritime in semifinal round play of the 2016 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Championships Friday evening at Clean Harbors Stadium.

The visiting Falcons, who improve to 7-11-1 overall with the triumph, advance to Sunday’s MASCAC championship match to take on top-seeded Worcester State for the league tournament title and the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championships, as the Lancers posted a 4-1 victory over fifth-seeded Bridgewater State in Friday’s other semifinal contest.  Sunday’s title tilt will take place at Coughlin Field in Worcester, Mass. beginning at 11:00 a.m.  The host Buccaneers, who advanced to the conference semifinal round for the third time in four seasons, end the year at 7-9-2 overall.

Freshman Matthew Krikorian (Groton, Mass.) staked Fitchburg State to a 1-0 advantage just 10:15 into the contest when he took advantage of an errant passback attempt for his team-leading 10^th tally of the season, and Bastien extended that margin to 2-0 when he deflected a pass from senior Steven Martinez (Middlesex, N.J.) in front of the net for his second marker of the fall.  Freshman Andrew Wayrynen (Rockport, Mass.) sliced Massachusetts Maritime’s deficit in half in the 68^th minute when he netted his second goal of the season on a cross from junior Kevin O’Leary (Norton, Mass.) from 10 yards out, and the Buccaneers had a chance to even matters with just under 10 minutes remaining on a penalty kick attempt that hit the cross bar and sailed high, allowing the Falcons to escape with their triumph.

Junior Alex Al-Zaibak (Hingham, Mass.) picked up his fifth win of the season with a five save effort in goal for Fitchburg State, which will be attempting to win its second MASCAC tournament crown in the last three seasons on Sunday.  Junior Mike Pruchnik (Rochester, Mass.) also made five stops in the setback for Massachusetts Maritime, as the Buccaneers held an 11-8 advantage in overall shots and a 4-2 edge in corner kicks on the evening, but the Falcons held a slim 7-6 margin in shots on goal for the contest.