Men's Soccer Falls 2-1 in Double Overtime to Framingham State in MASCAC Semifinals

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Freshman forward Gabriel Padilla (Framingham, Mass.) tallied the game-winning goal in the second overtime session to lift second-seeded Framingham State University to a dramatic 2-1 double overtime victory over #3 Bridgewater State University in the semifinal round of the 2021 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men's Soccer Tournament on Friday evening at Maple Street Field.

The Rams (8-11-1) will be making their second straight MASCAC Championship Game appearance and seventh overall. The Bears end the season with an overall record of 8-10. Framingham will take on top-seeded Salem State University in the conference title game on Sunday afternoon.

With time winding down in the second overtime period, Padilla drove a shot from 28 yards out that deflected off the BSU keeper's hands and into the back of the net. The game-ending strike came with just 45 seconds showing on the clock.

Bridgewater State opened the scoring in the 36th minute of play. Off a restart, freshman forward Brett Ghelfi's (Halifax, Mass.) shot from 20 yards out was knocked over the bar by the leaping Worcester netminder. On the ensuing corner, sophomore midfielder Will Halben (Attleboro, Mass.) drove a shot from the top of the 18 that deflected off a Worcester defender and into the back of the next. Ghelfi and senior defender Liam Lenihan (Rockland, Mass.) assisted on the Halben's third strike of the 2021 campaign.

That would be the only goal of the first half as the Bears' took the 1-0 lead into the break. The Rams held a 10-5 shot advantage over the first 45 minutes.

Framingham potted the game-tying goal in the 72nd minute as the Rams also converted off a corner kick. Freshman defender Bryce Borletto-McCray (Chelmsford, Mass.) scored off the rebound of a Sherak Ayamga (Tuma, Ghana) shot to knot the score at 1-1. Ayamga's header attempt bounced off the cross bar and Borletto-McCray drove a header under the crossbar for his first collegiate marker.

The Rams attempted the only four shots in the first overtime session, while the two teams exchanged a shot apiece in the second overtime before Padilla notched his third goal of the season to end the contest.

Framingham finished with a 22-12 shot advantage for the game, while Bridgewater held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks attempts.

Sophomore goalkeeper James Hartshorn (Chelmsford, Mass.) turned aside four shots for record his eight win of the season for the Rams, while senior netminder William Russell (Sandwich, Mass.) made seven saves between the pipes for the Bears.