Fitchburg State Seeded Fourth In 2011 MASCAC Women’s Soccer Championships

#4 Fitchburg State travels to #1 Worcester State
on Thursday, November 3rd

FITCHBURG, Mass. (November 1, 2011) – The Fitchburg State women's soccer team has earned the fourth seed in the 2011 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championships, which begins with semi-final round play on Thursday, November 3rd and conclude with the 2011 MASCAC Championship match on Saturday, November 5th.

The fourth seeded Falcons will travel to top seeded Worcester State University in one semi-final round match on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m., while second-seeded Westfield State University will host third-seeded Bridgewater State University in the other semi-final contest on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. in Westfield, Mass. The two semi-final winners will meet for the 2011 MASCAC Championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championships on Saturday at the site of the highest remaining seed.

Worcester State, Westfield State and Bridgewater State all shared the MASCAC regular season title with identical 5-2 league marks, but the Lancers claimed the top seed in this year's championships by winning the conference's tiebreaker. Senior Danielle Clifford (Attleboro, Mass.), last year's MASCAC Championships Most Valuable Player, leads Worcester State with seven goals and three assists for 17 points, while junior Brianne Beckman (Lakeville, Mass.) has chipped in with four goals and 15 points. Senior Angieszaka Sychtysz (Warren, Mass.) has collected 12 wins to go with a 0.84 goals against average for Head Coach Kevin Cumberbatch's Lancers, who finished 12-4-1 in regular season action.

Westfield State brings a 13-3-1 overall mark into this year's championships under Head Coach Todd Ditmar, as the Owls are led in scoring by junior Kayley Miller (Ludlow, Mass.), who leads the MASCAC with 12 goals and nine assists for 33 points. Fellow junior Leann Rivard (Chicopee, Mass.) adds 14 assists and 30 points for Westfield State, while sophomore Jess Habif (Holliston, Mass.) has notched eight victories and a 0.92 goals against average in net.

Bridgewater State sports an 11-6-1 overall slate under Head Coach Lou Verrochi, as the Bears are led in scoring by seniors Amber LaPorte (New Hartford, Conn.) and Jordan McDermott (East Bridgewater, Mass.), who each have 17 points to date with a combined 13 goals and eight assists. Sophomore Kerry Condon (Whitman, Mass.) has posted seven victories in goal for Bridgewater State with a 1.10 goals against average in 17 contests to date.

Fitchburg State rounds out the 2011 championship field, as the Falcons posted a 10-5-2 overall mark and a 4-3 conference slate under Head Coach Bruce Walberg. Senior Carissa Kennedy (Somerset, Mass.) leads Fitchburg State in scoring with 12 goals and five assists for 29 points, while sophomore Rachel Jamieson (Foxboro, Mass.) follows with 10 goals and 21 points. Sophomore Jillian Kirouac (Leominster, Mass.) has recorded 10 wins and a 1.08 goals against average this fall.

Worcester State captured the 2010 MASCAC tournament crown with a 1-0 victory over Bridgewater State in the title match.

2011 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championships

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD – SEMI-FINALS
Game #1: #4 Fitchburg State (10-5-2, 4-3) at #1 Worcester State (12-4-1, 5-2) 6:00 pm
Game #2: #3 Bridgewater State (11-6-1, 5-2) at #2 Westfield State (13-3-1, 5-2) 7:00 pm

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH – CHAMPIONSHIP (AT HIGHEST REMAINING SEED)
Semi-Final Winners TBA