11/7/2009 7:08:08 PM
WESTFIELD, Mass. – Senor forward Jared Barbosa (Lowell) scored in the 78th minute to lift Salem State to a 1-0 victory over Westfield State in the Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference (MASCAC) men’s soccer tournament championship game.
With the victory, the Vikings earned a bid to the NCAA Division III national tournament. Salem, 9-8 overall, was the No. 4 seed in the MASCAC tournament, but it upset Bridgewater State, 3-1, in the semi-finals. Salem lost to Westfield (9-8-2), 1-0 during the regular season.
Barbosa scored the game-winning goal when he got in front of two Owl defenders and punched the ball past Westfield keeper Lucas Dexter, who had come out to defend the shot.
Westfield out-shot Salem, 19-14, in the championship match, with the Owls holding a 10-3 advantage in the first half.
Salem junior goalie Luis Marques was named the MASCAC tournament most valuable player. Marques registered eight saves in the championship game.