Ipojuca Nets Clutch Game Winner to Advance Lancers to MASCAC Semifinals

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Worcester State's Andre Ipojuca (Saugus, Mass.) knocked home a sudden death penalty kick advancing the sixth seeded Lancers past the third seeded MCLA Trailblazers in the quarterfinal round of the MASCAC Men's Soccer championships in an entertaining game played at Shewcraft Field.  The contest ended in a 1-1 draw; however the Lancers will advance by virtue of winning the PK's 6-5.  They will move on to the semifinal round where they will face second seeded Framingham State on Friday.

Following the end of the second overtime, the teams engaged in an epic shootout to determine who would advance.  MCLA would kick first and sent out Christopher Shea (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.).  He was denied by Worcester State's keeper Jason Barrett (Spencer, Mass.) and when Worcester's Eric Davis (Hudson, Mass.) converted his kick, the Lancers had a quick advantage.  MCLA and Worcester State would both convert their second kicks, but Barrett once again came up huge stopping Dylan Pereira's (Ludlow, Mass.) shot. Next, Ramdal Mendez (Attleboro, Mass.) scored, and the Lancers appeared on their way leading 3-1 in the best of five rounds with two kicks remaining.

MCLA's Jesse Moore (Castleton, N.Y.) converted making it 3-2 in favor of Worcester State, but then Trailblazers' keeper Kamron Anderson (Springfield, Mass.) stopped Etjon Rapi (Worcester, Mass.) from giving the home team hope.  When Ryan Baker (Pittsfield, Mass.) converted, the PK's were knotted at three with Noah Phelps (Attleboro, Mass.) left to kick for Worcester.  Anderson once again came up big stopping Phelps which led to the sudden death, alternating kick round.

Each team would convert their first two kicks, Sean Kenney (Glenville, N.Y.) and Nolan Burke (Palmer, Mass.) for MCLA, and Bryan Brasil (Williamsburg, Mass.) and Matthew Dent (Ludlow, Mass.) for Worcester setting the stage for the dramatic 8^th round.  MCLA sent Tyler Callahan (Brewster, Mass.) to kick and his shot deflected off the crossbar giving Worcester another chance to advance.  The Lancers sent Ipojuca to the line and he calmly sent a shot into the left corner, moving the Lancers to the semi-final round.

Worcester controlled play early on in the contest earning multiple corner kicks and throws deep in Trailblazer territory.  They finally broke through at the 11:32 mark when they earned a corner kick and converted.  Lancer's Phelps lofted a perfect corner kick that deflected off the back post.  The ball ricocheted in the center of the box where Jacob Jess (Douglas, Mass.) headed it home for an early 1-0 lead.  The marker was his second goal of the season.

MCLA had a few chances to answer in the opening half, but Worcester's Barrett kept the zero on the scoreboard.  Trailblazer Tyler Vona (Highland, N.Y.) almost immediately answered the Jess goal in the 18^th minute when he got inside the left box.  Worcester's Barrett cut off the angle however and deflected the ball out of bounds keeping it 1-0.  MCLA outshot Worcester 6-5 in the period as Barrett collected four saves.

MCLA had trailed at halftime 1-0, but came back to tie the game on Anthony Basile's (East Longmeadow, Mass.) tenth goal of the season in the 63^rd minute off an Edward Boateng (Worcester, Mass.) feed. 

The Lancers had some opportunities in overtime to score the game winner, however Anderson came up with some big saves to send the game into PK's.  The Lancers outshot MCLA 11-5 in the extra sessions, but Anderson kept MCLA in it.

Both Barrett and Anderson stopped eight shots on the day while Worcester held a 26-21 shot edge, including a 21-15 mark over the final period and OT's. 

The Lancers also owned a 10-3 edge in corner kicks.

MCLA ends their season at 5-9-3 while the Lancers are now 6-9-2 overall heading into Friday's matchup.

Release courtesy of MCLA Sports Information