Vikings Take Commanding 4-0 Victory Over Buccaneers

SALEM, Mass. – Salem State women's soccer found themselves back in the win column this afternoon after defeating conference foe, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, to improve to 2-1 in MASCAC action.

Prior to the game Coach Wood expressed how important securing this win would be as it would push them above the .500 mark in conference play. Coach Wood said any team able to get above .500 at this point in the season, "…[puts themselves] in a strong position to be successful and get a postseason nod. It would be huge so that's definitely the goal and I think they're ready for it." 

As the match began, Salem State's offense quickly began to attack the Buccaneers' zone, which gave Kylie Phillips a chance to score the first goal, but unfortunately, she couldn't capitalize. However, the Vikings were able to capitalize on a corner kick a play later when Sydney Durkin (Dracut, Mass.) found Jenna Mitza (Tyngsboro, Mass.) in the box, who then volleyed the ball into the back of the net to give the Vikings the 1-0 lead.   

Despite having a one-point advantage, the Vikings were determined to add to their tally. Fifteen minutes later, Anna Latta (Southbury, Conn.) scored the second goal for the Vikings, with Savannah Scrodin (Mount Abraham, Vt.) providing the assist. The 2-0 lead would hold to give the Vikings the two-goal cushion to enter the break.

Scrodin picked up right where her squad left off to come out of the half, as she launched a shot on net in the opening minute but Reagan Kerecz (Tolland, Ct.) would deny her chance at extending Salem's lead. Neither goalie would see any action until fifteen minutes later when Kerecz would turn away another Viking shot to keep her teams' deficit at two.

With four minutes to play in the game, Phillips was fouled in the box on a breakaway to set her team up for the penalty kick, which Brenna Paquette would convert to give the Vikings the 3-0 edge. Two minutes later, Paquette would notch her second goal of the game after another penalty in the box set her up to extend her team's lead. The four goals would prove to be enough as the Vikings would go onto to take the 4-0 victory to improve to 2-1 in conference action.