Owls Defeat Vikings 2-0 to Claim MASCAC Championship

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- #2 Westfield State rode two first half goals to defeat #5 seed Salem State, 2-0 for the 2024 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men's Soccer Championship at Alumni Field on Sunday afternoon. The Owls (9-6-5) made goals by Matias Otero (Rye Brook, N.Y.) and Ryan Denehy (Littleton, Mass.) stand up as Westfield State claimed their first championship since the 2012. The Vikings conclude their season 6-8-6.

How it Happened:

• Otero opened the scoring in the 31' minute corralling a rebound near the left edge of the box and drove a shot into to the lower right corner of the net past a diving Erik Berg (Hadley, Mass.) for a 1-0 lead.
• Denehy extended the lead in the 40' minute when he crashed the net off a Westfield State corner and headed a shot home to give the Owls a two-goal lead.
• Inside the 68' minute, Salem State nearly found the back of the net on a shot by first-year forward Nanderson Curtis (Manchester, Mass.), but his shot glanced past the right post and out of play.
• In the 80' minute Aaron O'Toole (Quincy, Mass.) had Salem State's best scoring chance, but his attempt hit off the left post.       

Inside the Numbers:

• Luke Theroux (Chicopee, Mass.) earned the shutout, making six saves for Westfield State.
• Berg finished with eight saves in net for the Vikings.
• The Owls posted a 23-14 advantage in shots in the game.