Senra's Two Goals Sends Vikings to MASCAC Semifinals

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications

SALEM, Mass. -- Third seeded Salem State defeated six seeded Fitchburg State by a score of 2-0 in MASCAC quarterfinal action on Tuesday at Alumni Field. The Vikings improved their season record to 12-4-3, while the Falcons finished 4-11-3. Salem State will head to second seeded Westfield State on Friday for a semifinal match at 7:00 PM.

The game started off with both teams aggressively attacking each other's zones. Salem State had a corner kick, and Brendan Walsh (Westford, Mass.) delivered a perfect pass as Aaron O'Toole (Quincy, Mas.) and Brendan Davis (Dracut, Mass.) both executed back-to-back headers in an attempt to score.   

The Vikings' Landon Picillo (Warwick, R.I.) fired a shot from ten yards out, but Fitchburg's Luke Speers (Collegeville, Pa.) managed to make a glove save. A few minutes later, Picillo made a brilliant pass to Davis, who tried to score, but Jahua Atemkeng (Peabody, Mass.) managed to block the shot. 

Dylan Senra (Dartmouth, Mass.) scored on a free kick, which put the Vikings ahead 1-0 forty minutes into the game. Salem State had two opportunities to extend their lead when Picillo and Walaeddine Hounane (Salem, N.H.) just missed from 15 yards out.

At the half Hauntsman saved two shots goal while Speers saved three of four shots goal. Salem State had five corner kicks compared to Fitchburg's none.

At the start of the second half, Salem State controlled play in the the Falcons' zone. Davis sprinted towards the net, looking to extend Salem State's lead, but Speers kept up with him and Davis couldn't put one inside the net. Later, O'Toole ripped a shot that Speers deflected with his right foot and made a nice save. 

Sixty-three minutes into the game, Fitchburg State's Francesco Campione (Newton, Mass.) took a header, causing keeper Hauntsman to slide to the left side to catch the ball mid-air. The Falcons then attempted to score off a corner kick, but they couldn't put one inside that would've tied the game as the ball sailed high. Hauntsman then made a diving save near the right corner of the net to prevent the tying goal. 

Late in the game, Davis and Speers collided while Davis was on a breakaway. Senra took the penalty kick and beat Speers, extending the Vikings' lead to 2-0.

Hauntsman saved all 10 of his shots, while Speers saved 10 of 12 shots. Salem State had 13 corner kicks throughout the game, while Fitchburg had six. The Vikings had four offsides, while the Falcons had none.