Skelton Double Sends Men 's Soccer to 4-1 Victory over Westfield State

NEWTON, Mass. (10/8/13) – The Lasell College men's soccer team collected a non-conference victory over the Owls of Westfield State University by a 4-1 margin. Lasell climbed to 9-2 on the season while the Owls slid to 3-8 for the year.

Mike Skelton (Conway, N.H.) scored a pair of goals pushing his season total to nine, while Nery Guerra (Guatemala City, Guatemala) added his first goal of the year and Nick Liquori (Westfield, Mass.) collected his second tally of the year for the Lasers. Westfield scored their lone goal of the match when a service from Dan Brady (Wilbraham, Mass.) set up Dylan Rizzo's (Milford, Mass.) header for his first goal in the 2013 season.

Lasell opened the scoring in the third minute of play when Jose Cabrera (Queretaro, Mexico) held up a ball just inside the top of the box before slipping a tidy ball to Guerra who slotted home to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. The Lasers tacked on their second goal of the match in the 14^th minute when sophomore back Taylor Witherbee (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) got forward into the attack and drove the endline before hitting a perfect cross that found Skelton unmarked on the back post. Skelton tapped the service home making it 2-0 in favor of Lasell.

Westfield State created some dangerous chances on the counter attack, but they were unable to get a foot on a series of crosses into the Lasell box. The Lasers' Skelton added his second of the match in the 37^th minute when he tallied from the penalty spot, sending Lasell into the half with a 3-0 lead.

The Owls pulled a goal back in the 70^th minute when Rizzo's powerful header back across the goal on the service by Brady beat Lasell keeper Miguel Colmenares (Caracas, Venezuela). Lasell pushed their advantage back to three goals in the 81^st minute when a deflected ball in the box fell to Nick Liquori. The sophomore feinted the Owls keeper out of position before tapping the ball into the open net for the final 4-1 margin.

Miguel Colmenares earned the victory in goal for Lasell, recording one save on the afternoon. Kris Carrington (Agawam, Mass.) made five saves in the net for Westfield, taking the loss.

Westfield State will return to action when they host Salem State in MASCAC play on Saturday October 12^th at 6:00 p.m., while Lasell will travel to Johnson and Wales University as they look to remain undefeated in GNAC play in a 1:00 p.m. match.