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AMCATS advance to ECAC Semifinals with 3-2 win
11/11/2009
Athletics
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WESTFIELD, Mass. – Anna Maria jumped out to 3-1 halftime lead and held on for a 3-2 victory over Westfield State in an ECAC New England Division III men’s soccer tournament quarterfinal game on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 11.
Anna Maria boosted its record to 11-8 and advances to the semi-finals, where it will play either No. 1 seed Wentworth or Lesley. Westfield finishes with a 9-9-2 record after starting the season 0-4-1.
Anna Maria led 2-0 six minutes into the game. Joshua Bernardo (Peabody) scored in the third minute and three minutes later Enco Lika (Worcester) scored with an assist from George Markopoulos (Worcester).
Westfield cut the lead in half on a goal by sophomore Josh Severns (Suffield, Conn.) in the 17th minute; Tim Parsons (Buzzards Bay) was credited with the assist.
Justin Hyland (Leicester) scored the game-winning goal in the 40th minute, with Markopoulos recording his second assist.
Anna Maria controlled the first half, out-shooting Westfield, 12-3, but the host squad picked up the pace in the second half.
The Owls, who out-shot Anna Maria, 15-8 in the second half, applied constant offensive pressure for most of the final 20 minutes.
Westfield sophomore Justin Laliberte (Easthampton) scored with 2:39 left in regulation when he hammered in a rebound off a wicked shot by Sam LaBonte (Westhampton) that hit the left post.
The Owls continued their assault and nearly scored with just under a minute remaining when Josh Silvia (South Windsor, Conn.) ripped a shot from 20 yards just under the crossbar. But Anna Maria goalie Eric Perkins (Peabody) made an outstanding save in re-directing the shot over the crossbar.
Perkins had seven saves, including six in the second half.
Anna Maria will play the winner of #1 Wentworth and #8 Lesley on Saturday in the Semifinal round of the ECAC Tournament.
Release Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information