WORCESTER STATE ADVANCES TO NCAA DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINALS

GENEVA, NY, Nov. 11, 2007 - Behind a pair of goals from junior Tiffany Rotatori (Auburn, MA) and the stellar goalkeeping of freshman Erin Doherty (Uxbridge, MA) the Worcester State College women's soccer team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III tournament knocking off the 16^th ranked Dutchwomen of Union College by the final tally of, 2-1, in the second round of the NCAA regional at Cozzens Field on the campus of William Smith College. 

Worcester State's 8^th straight win improves them to 16-5 on the year, while Union concludes their season with the same 16-5 mark.

The first half ended in a scoreless draw despite Union holding an, 11-5, advantage in shots and an, 8-0, lead in cornerkicks.  Doherty made numerous impressive saves in keeping the Dutchwomen off the board.

Rotatori got the Lancers on the board in the 56^th minute when she scored her 11^th goal of the season striking a left footed shot from the left side into the far corner over the outstretched hands of the Union College keeper to give Worcester State a, 1-0, advantage.

Following the Worcester State goal, Union ratcheted up the pressure as they continued to put numerous shots on goal with Doherty keeping them at bay with several outstanding stops.

Union was able to get the equalizer in the 82^nd minute when Sara Wilson (Wilbraham, MA) blasted a shot past Doherty to tie the game up at, 1-1.

The tie was short-lived, however, as senior Kelsey Irish (Hudson, MA) struck the ensuing kickoff down the left side and Rotatori chased down the pass and hit almost an identical shot to her first goal off of her left foot into the top corner of the net in the 83rd minute for the game-winner.

On the day, Union out shot Worcester State by a large, 25-8, margin and had a decisive, 13-0 advantage in cornerkicks.  Doherty finished the game with 13 saves while Melissa MacDonald (Lynnfield, MA) stopped three shots in the loss.

Worcester State advances to the round of 16 where they will face Western Connecticut State University who defeated Endicott College, 2-1, this afternoon.  Earlier this season, the Lancers lost to WestConn, 2-0, at Coughlin Field. 

The entry into the next round marks the furthest the women's soccer program has ever advanced.  The victory also ties a pair of program milestones as the 16 wins ties the single season victory mark and the 8^th consecutive win also ties the school record.  This is the fourth straight season that Worcester State has reached the NCAA tournament by virtue of winning the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference postseason tournament.  Last year, the team won their first NCAA game defeating Stevens Institute in the first round before falling to Endicott in penalty kicks in the second round.