Lady Warriors Set To Battle Holyoke CC In Region XXI Finals

BROCKTON, Mass. ---- With a win over the weekend at Springfield Tech, the Massasoit Community College women's soccer team earned a spot to battle top seed Holyoke CC on Saturday in the Region XXI Finals. The match is set for 1 p.m. and will be played in Holyoke, Mass.

(1) Holyoke CC vs. (2) Massasoit CC
Saturday Oct., 26 at 1 p.m.
Holyoke, Mass.

Massasoit Scouting Report
Massasoit hit a dry spell during the second half of the season, after starting the year off at 4-1. The Warriors closed out the year going just 2-7 over the last nine games, including dropping five-straight matches prior to last Saturday's dramatic 2-1 must-win against Springfield Tech.

Overall the Warriors boast a record of 6-8, with an impressive 6-2 mark in divisional games within Region XXI. The two divisional losses both came to HCC.

Offensively, Massasoit has found the back of the net 32 times, led by Melanie Thompson's team-best 15 goals. Joining Thompson up top has been Katie Arnold (2g, 4a), who netted a key tally in last Saturday's victory at STCC. Ashley Westover (Stoughton) has four goals and three assists on the season, while Zhandali Fontes (Taunton) has netted six goals but is currently sidelined with an injury.

On the defensive side, goalkeeper Kristin Reardon (Weymouth) has posted five shutouts and a league-high 134 saves on the season. In the back row, Stephanie Villanueva (Whitman) and Ashley Andrade (Randolph) have been anchors for the Warrior defense.

Player To Watch: Melanie Thompson (Middleborough)
Thompson is a work horse up top for the Warriors, netting 15 goals in 12 games. Overall, she has four multi-goal efforts, including a five-goal day against Bunker Hill earlier in the season. Over her two seasons at Massasoit, Thompson has scored 24 goals.

Holyoke Scouting Report
The Cougars have been the top Division III team in Region XXI, owning a perfect 7-0 record in divisional games and sit at 11-4 overall. HCC has won six of its last seven contests, outscoring the opposition by an impressive 45-8 mark during that span. In addition, the Cougars have scored 10-or-more goals in a match four times.

On the season, HCC has netted 71 goals and allowed just 16, as three players have scored 11-or-more goals on the year. Nicole Callini leads the squad and the region in goals with 19, while Taishla Lopez (13g) and Jessica Teodore (11g) have also reached double figures. Teodore also tops the league in assists with 13.

HCC still has one remaining game on its schedule, set to play Bunker Hill CC on Oct. 23. The Cougars defeated Bunker Hill earlier in the season, 16-1.

Player To Watch: Nicole Callini, MF
Callini has been and offensive force for the Cougars, as she she leads Region XXI in goals (19) and points (47). The center midfielder has scored at least one goal in seven consecutive matches and has three hat tricks on the season.

Season Series: Hoyoke leads, 2-0
HCC held the upper hand in the season series with Massasoit, claiming both meetings by scores of 3-0 and 2-0.

Last Meeting: Holyoke 2, Massasoit 0 (9/21/13)
HCC's Jessica Teodore netted a pair of second half goals to defeat the Warriors in Brockton.

Close Contests To Close Out Season
Entering last week, Massasoit needed just one win or a tie in its final two contests at home vs. Dean College and on the road at Springfield Tech. Against Dean, the Warriors fell in double overtime as the Bulldogs netted a goal in the 107th minute of action to escape with the win.

Last Saturday, the Warriors received first-half goals from Arnold and Thompson as the Warriors held off Springfield Tech, 2-1 on the road to advance to the league finals.