Westfield freshmen Katy Knight, left, and Amanda Magri close in on Keene State’s Beverly Cole during first-half action. (Photo courtesy of Keene State)
KEENE, N.H. – The Westfield State University women’s soccer team jumped out to a 2-0 lead and held on for a 2-1 non-conference win over Keene State College, spoiling the home-opener at Athletic Complex last night.
Keene State falls to 1-2 while Westfield State (3-0) remains unbeaten.
“You have to come to play from the start and not wait until halftime,” said KSC Coach Denise Lyons. “We took it to them in the second half and were more aggressive, but we still didn’t play our game. It’s very disappointing.”
KSC sophomore goalie Torrie Crenson (North Salem, N.Y.) kept WSU off the board in the early going. Coming out to cut down the angle, Crenson denied freshman Ashley Bovat (Westfield, Mass.) and three minutes later stopped a close-range bid by senior Brittanie McGregor (Ludlow, Mass.).
Westfield finally broke through at the 33:11 of the first half. Taking a short cross from McGregor, senior Kayley Miller (Ludlow, Mass.) one-timed the ball into the net to give Westfield a 1-0 lead.
Miller scored her second goal of the game and fourth of the season at the 38:25 mark of the second half when she pounced on a loose ball and put it by Crenson.
Trailing 2-0, Keene State came alive, peppering the Westfield State with several shots. Junior Kara Pavlidis (Lee, N.H.) made it a 2-1 game at the 20:46 mark when she headed in a crossing ball from senior Elise Bolster (Narragansett, R.I.) for her second goal of the season.
“I don’t usually score with my head, but I wanted it really badly,” said Pavlidis. “I’m glad I could capitalize on that play, but it’s a bummer we couldn’t get another two goals. We ran out of time.”
Crenson, who finished the game with nine saves, kept it a one goal game with several spectacular stops later in the half. She just got her fingertips on a drive by Miller and then stopped a breakaway attempt by McGregor.
“I just tried to keep us in the game,” said Crenson. “I didn’t want to give up any more goals.”
Pavlidis attempted to get the equalizer for KSC with 1:34 remaining, but her shot was blocked by the Westfield defense.
Junior Jess Habif (Holliston, Mass.) stopped six shots for Westfield.
Both teams have non-conference games on Saturday. Keene State hosts Roger Williams University (3:30 p.m.) Westfield State takes on Elmira College at the Castleton State Tournament (3:30 p.m.).
