Manchester CC 1 Massasoit CC 1 (2 OT)

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NJCAA Region 21 Division III tournament semi-final
Manchester CC 1 Massasoit CC 1 (2 OT)
Massasoit advances on penalty kicks

HOLYOKE, MA – Julianna Blanchette scored in the second round of penalty kicks and Massasoit CC eliminated Manchester CC from the NJCAA Region 21 Division III tournament Saturday afternoon.

Massasoit’s Jamie Ledin (18th minute) and Manchester’s Miranda Hodge (23rd minute) traded first half goals before goalkeepers Samantha Ackerson and Michelle Kerr (Rockville) took control of the game. Ackerson made seven saves for Massasoit (6-7-2) while Kerr had 10 saves for Manchester (6-6-2). Both keepers made outstanding saves in the waning minutes of regulation and again in overtime.

“It was a heartbreaking loss and a tough way to end the season,” MCC’s first-year head coach Jeremy Wilson said. “But I have to give the girls a lot of credit. They fought their hearts out.”
Ackerman stopped Hodge (Rocky Hill) in a one-on-one situation in the 85th minute and Kristen Lackman’s (Willington) free-kick from 30 yards away with less than two minutes left in regulation grazed the cross-bar.

Massasoit lost to Holyoke CC Sunday 3-0 in the championship game and will host the District G championship game next Saturday. Holyoke eliminated Springfield Tech 2-1 in Saturday’s other semi-final game.