Top seeded MCLA set to host Bridgewater tomorrow at 1pm

Buzzards Bay, MA- The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has earned the top seed in the 2010 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championships, which begin with semi-final round play on Wednesday, November 3rd and conclude with the 2010 MASCAC Championship match on Saturday, November 6th.

Regular season conference champion MCLA will host fourth-seeded Bridgewater State University in one semi-final round match on Wednesday afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT, while second-seeded Worcester State University will host third-seeded Westfield State University in the other semi-final contest on Wednesday evening beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT. The two semi-final winners will meet for the 2010 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 at a time to be determined.

Head Coach Deb Raber's Trailblazers bring a 12-match unbeaten streak into the MASCAC Championships, as MCLA posted a 10-2-5 overall mark and a 4-0-3 conference slate during regular season play. Senior forward Jess Tietgens (Stamford, Vt.) leads the Trailblazers in scoring with 15 goals and 34 points to date, while junior Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, N.Y.) is 9-1-4 in goal for MCLA with an 0.46 GAA and six shutouts.

Worcester State finished second in the league in regular season play under Head Coach Kevin Cumberbatch with an 8-5-4 overall mark and a 4-1-2 conference slate, and the Lancers are led in scoring by the trio of senior Sarah Connors (Gardner, Mass.), junior Danielle Clifford (Attleboro, Mass.) and freshman Gaby Gonet (Agawam, Mass.), who have combined for 12 goals and 34 points. Senior Rachael Armenti (West Boylston, Mass.) has made 52 saves with three shutouts in net for Worcester State to date. 

Defending tournament champion Westfield State also posted a 4-1-2 MASCAC mark and finished 6-8-3 in regular season action under Head Coach Todd Ditmar. Sophomore Kayley Miller leads the Owls in scoring with 11 goals and 26 points to date, while freshman Jess Habif (Holliston, Mass.) has five wins in goal with 62 saves and a pair of shutouts. 

Bridgewater State rounds out the 2010 championship field, as the Bears finished with a 6-9-1 regular season slate and a 4-2-1 conference mark under first year Head Coach Lou Verrochi. Junior forward Jordan McDermott (East Bridgewater, Mass.) leads Bridgewater State in scoring with seven goals and 17 points, while senior Kayla Grover (Haverhill, Mass.) has six wins and three shutouts in goal. 

All four teams return to the 2010 championship field from last season, as two-time defending tournament titleist Westfield State captured the 2009 MASCAC tournament crown with a 3-1 victory over MCLA. 

2010 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championships

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD – SEMI-FINALS  

Game #1: #4 Bridgewater State (6-9-1, 4-2-1) at #1 MCLA (10-2-5, 4-0-3) 1:00 pm
Game #2: #3 Westfield State (6-8-3, 4-1-2) at #2 Worcester State (8-5-4, 4-1-2) 7:00 pm  

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH – CHAMPIONSHIP (AT HIGHEST REMAINING SEED)  

Semi-Final Winners TBA