Amanda Grant’s (10) shot bounces off the right post during barrage of Westfield shots early in the first half. (Photo by Mickey Curtis)
WESTFIELD – Lauren Bandoian scored the game-winning goal in the 65th minute as Bridgewater State University defeated Westfield State University, 2-1, in a key Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women’s soccer game on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 28.
Bridgewater State improves to 1-0-1 in the MASCAC and 4-3-1 overall. Westfield State drops to 1-1 and 5-4.
Bandoian scored her first goal of the season following a scrum outside the right post off a corner kick. She collected the loose ball and deposited it into the upper right post from a sharp right angle.
Westfield nearly scored the equalizer in the 81st minute, but Bridgewater goalie Marissa Yowell made a nice save on a short range shot by Sarah Sypek, then Bridgewater defender MaryRose Griffin cleared the loose ball near the goal line.
Griffin also cleared the ball near the goal mouth on another major Owl scoring attempt in the first half following a wild sequence in which a Westfield shot hit the post and Yowell recorded a save on another shot attempt.
Bridgewater took a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute when Mackenzie Hatfield scored her fourth goal of the season on a mini-breakaway, with a nice cross pass from Olivia Planty.
Sypek, who hit the crossbar on a shot attempt early in the game, evened the score at 1-1 on a goal in the 27th minute. She received a nice pass to the center of the field from Lauren Marshall.
Westfield State outshot Bridgewater, 19-11; the Owls had six shots on goal, Bridgewater five. Yowell registered five saves and Westfield keeper Jess Habif had two saves.
