Worcester State Men's Soccer Championship Preview

Worcester, MA- Morning Worcester State has had another Fall Athletic Programs make it to the MASCAC Championship Game! For the first time since the 2016-17 season, the Worcester State Lancers Men’s Soccer program will have a chance to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The team looking to stall the celebration on Sunday afternoon are the Bridgewater State Bears, who were able to play the Lancers to a 0-0 draw when the teams met on Oct. 8. Below are three keys that the Lancers need to focus on to put themselves in a favorable position to lift a championship trophy on John F. Coughlin Memorial Field Sunday afternoon.

1. Use the Home Crowd to Your Advantage: Whenever a team can host a conference championship game, it is almost guaranteed they will play in front of a sell-out crowd. By having the crowd noise on their side, it can not only give them the mental boost they need when the legs become tired late in the game but could help a fantastic shot find the back of the net.
2. Stay Composed: Unlike some other programs, where players have experienced playing in a MASCAC Championship game, none of the players currently on the Men’s Soccer team have a similar experience. This means they could face a situation where nerves come into play in the first few minutes of the first half. It is crucial for the team to not to always try for the home run pass but instead focus on a shorter pass that could lead to a better scoring opportunity.
3. Do Not Lose Focus: Whenever people think about the 1980 United States Hockey Team, the story is portrayed that after the group of college guys upset the USSR, the gold medal was theirs. What has been forgotten years later is that they had to beat Finland to win the gold medal. Before the players went out onto the ice to face Finland, Head Coach Herb Brooks walked into the locker room, looked at all his players seated at their lockers and said, “If you lose this game, you take it to your grave.” He turns to walk out of the room, looks back at them and screams, “your grave,” then slams the door shut. In terms of Worcester State, it is essential that they do not overlook Bridgewater State because the contest is at home and the upset over number two seed Salem State on Friday night will have any impact on the championship contest. 

If you ask any Division lll team in the country in any sport, they will tell you one of the goals heading into the season is to host a conference championship game at their university. The final remaining question that is running through members of the Worcester State Community is whether the Men’s Soccer program can not only host it but win it.