Macomber Tallies Twice In 2-0 Women's Soccer Victory Over Salem State

Worcester, MA --- Junior Alicia Macomber (Stoughton, MA) netted a pair of goals to lift Worcester State over Salem State, 2-1, in women's soccer MASCAC action this afternoon at Coughlin Field.

The Lancers improved to 10-3 and remain unbeaten in MASCAC play at 5-0 while the Vikings even out to 4-4-4 and 2-2-1 in conference play with the defeat.

Macomber tallied a goal in each half as the Lancers raced to a 2-0 advantage before the Vikings added a late goal to start off Worcester State's Homecoming Saturday the right way.

Worcester State jumped ahead in the 28th minute when Macomber intercepted a clearing attempt by a Viking defender and fired a strike from the top of the box to the left corner.

Macomber then added an insurance goal in the 64th minute to put the hosts on top by two when she received a deep pass from well beyond midfield by senior Shelby Archer (Dayville, CT) and belted a strike from 20 yards out that squeezed just inside the top left corner to notch her squad-best 11th tally of the campaign.

Facing the early one-goal deficit in the second and the 2-0 hole late in the second, the Vikings had their opportunities to put the goal in the net, but were unsuccessful on both tries.

Moments into the second half, Salem State provided their first offensive attack in the Lancer zone before junior Amy Griffith (Middleton, MA) connected on a strike just inside the box from the right side that clanged off the crossbar.

In the 76th minute, the Vikings were once again on the doorstep when they had a shot from junior Leah Wood (Loveland, OH) fire off the crossbar with junior goalkeeper Jillian Witkowski (Leicester, MA) out of the net.

Macomber's second-half tally proved to be an important one as the Vikings continued to battle until the final horn.

Junior Kelly Birchmore (Swampscott, MA) scored her second tally of the season with 31 seconds remaining in the game on a free kick just outside the box that was just out of the reach of Witkowski to cut the deficit in half.

The Vikings were unable to get another opportunity in the waning moments of the contest.

Both teams had 19 shots, but the Lancers held a 12-8 advantage on shots on net and a narrow 2-1 edge in corner kicks.

Witkowski stopped seven shots between the pipes to improve to 9-3 on the season. Junior net minder Rachel Ledbetter (Dracut, MA) saved 10 shots in the losing effort, falling to 4-4-4 on the season.

Both squads travel out of conference next week as the Blue and Gold visit Colby-Sawyer Wednesday at 3 o'clock and the Vikings face MIT Tuesday afternoon for a 4 PM start time.

Story By Michael Corso '12 - Sports Information Intern