Westfield senior Lauren Marshall looks downfield for an open teammate. (Photo by Mickey Curtis)
WESTFIELD – Junior forward Erica Jonasson scored with 4:36 remaining in the second overtime to lift Bridgewater State University to a 3-2 victory over Westfield State University in the semifinals of the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women’s soccer tournament.
Bridgewater (8-8-2), the No. 3 seed, will host No. 4 seed Worcester State in the MASCAC championship game on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 12:00. Worcester State advanced to the title tilt with a 3-0 upset victory over No. 1 seed Framingham State. Westfield finished with a 10-8 record.
The game-winning goal began when Mackenzie Hatfield, who had a goal and an assist in the entertaining game, broke free along the right sideline. Hatfield crossed a pass into the box and Owl goalie Jess Habif made a save. In the ensuing scrum in front of the net, Marissa Yowell directed the ball to Jonasson who knocked in the game-winner for her team-high 15th goal of the season.
The teams traded goals in regulation. Westfield took a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute when junior forward Amanda Grant scored after receiving a nice lead pass from Kate Matroni.
Bridgewater knotted the score in the 23rd minute when Hatfield scored off Bridget O’Leary’s direct kick.
Westfield regained the lead, 2-1, in the 39th minute when Grant scored a similar goal off a pass from Colie Sambrook. Bridgewater evened the score again in the 49th minute on a goal from Lauren Bandoian, who received a 30-yard cross pass from Hatfield.
Westfield controlled the action for the final 10 minutes of regulation but Bridgewater had the two major scoring opportunities in the first overtime that resulted in Habif saves.
In the second overtime, the Owls nearly scored two minutes prior to Jonasson’s game-winner, but Sarah Sypek’s hard shot in the box was just wide of the left post.
Westfield outshot Bridgewater, 19-14. Habif, one of two Westfield seniors, recorded eight saves. Bridgewater keeper Kerry Condon registered seven saves.
