Westfield Offense Overpowers Rams in MASCAC Semi-Final
Westfield, Mass. – Three different players scored goals as the Westfield State women's soccer team defeated the Framingham State Rams in the semi-final round of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women's Soccer Tournament. With the victory the Owls advance to championship game Sunday at #1 seed Worcester State.
The Owls opened up scoring in the in the eighth minute when sophomore Nicole Gay (Hatfield, Mass) headed in a corner kick from senior Amanda Grant (Westfield, Mass). Westfield found the back of the net again just over a minute later when senior Sarah Sypek (Westhampton, Mass) played a ball through the defense and hit a long strike that deflected off the Rams keeper. Senior Ashleigh Chretien (North Attleboro, Mass) was credited with an assist.
The Rams had an opportunity to cut the lead to 2-1 when an Owls foul created a direct kick from just outside the box. The Rams player sent a shot just high of the net.
In the 20th minute Sypek found the back of the net again when she scored after a well-timed give and go from Amanda Grant. With just over thirteen minutes remaining in the first half the Owls extended the lead to 4-0 when junior Ashley Bovat (Westfield, Mass) scored by redirecting a long lead pass around the Rams keeper, Grant was credited with the assist.
The Rams best chance to score was in the final minute of play when the freshman Darby Andersson (Plymouth, Mass) took a shot which was saved by the Owls keeper Anne Stack (East Longmeadow, Mass). The shot generated a rebound which was headed back towards the net by sophomore Marissa Miele (Hudson, Mass) and saved again by Stack.
Sophomore Sara Sullivan (Quincy, Mass) made six saves in net for the Rams. Stack made six saves in the victory for the Owls.
The Rams close the season with an overall record of 12-7. The Owls improve to 12-4-2 and advance to the MASCAC Championship at #1 Worcester State on Sunday.