Worcester State women’s soccer secured the MASCAC championship, taking down Westfield State 2-0 on November 8th, which punched their ticket straight to the NCAA Division 3 Tournament! This isn’t just any win, either. It’s the Lancers’ first MASCAC title since 2019, breaking a seven-year drought, and they did it with a “dream team” duo leading the charge: senior Jessica Forbes and freshman Lizzy Shoucair. Talk about making a statement!
The Dynamic Duo That Got It Done
You know Forbes, right? The Lancers’ senior who’s been a rock. Well, last year, she was working at the DeFeudis Wellness Center when Shoucair walked in, telling her she was coming to Worcester State. Forbes knew it immediately: Shoucair would be an “amazing addition.” And man, was she ever right! These two were high school teammates back in 2022 at Tahanto Regional, even helping that team reach the Division 5 state tournament semifinals for the first time before falling to the eventual champs. Shoucair never forgot that. She said her one goal after high school was to win a state championship. Now, as a freshman, she’s already bagged a MASCAC title and is headed to the NCAAs. Incredible, truly incredible. Both Forbes (5 goals, 2 assists, 12 points) and Shoucair (5 goals, 1 assist, 11 points) are already among the team’s leading scorers, proving their chemistry is just as lethal in college. Shoucair even said she knew she could help the team win a MASCAC, “not just for myself, but for Jess.” You love to hear that kind of leadership, even from a freshman!
Redemption and Relentless Drive
This MASCAC win against Westfield State? It wasn’t just a championship game, it was pure redemption. Westfield State beat the Lancers in last year’s conference final, and Forbes remembers it well: “every time we played Westfield before that, we had either lost or they ended our season.” There was a ton on the line, especially given last year’s heartbreak. The team put in so much work and effort in the offseason, they wanted it badly, they were determined. In the semifinal against Bridgewater State, they scraped out a 2-1 overtime win, setting up the big final. Shoucair kicked things off in the championship game, putting Worcester State on the board at 33:07. Forbes called it a “great boost,” emphasizing they wanted to be the proactive team, not reactive, and that first goal certainly set the tone. Forbes herself was a beast defensively, earning MASCAC Defensive Player of the Week honors and All-MASCAC first team, with the unit holding opponents to just 12 shots over the two tournament games. That’s how you win titles, folks, with a full team effort!
So, what’s next for these champs? They face Rowan in an NCAA first-round game at 11 a.m. on November 14th at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Penn. This isn’t just a win, it’s a statement. Can this squad, making their fifth NCAA appearance under Coach Kevin Cumberbatch, keep the momentum rolling and make a deep run in the NCAAs? We’re all watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply