Michaela St. Cyr netted Westfield’s goal in a 2-1 OT loss to Fitchburg State. (Photo courtesy of Westfield State University Sports)
WESTFIELD – Fitchburg State’s Micalea Goldenberg scored on a penalty kick in overtime to lift Fitchburg State past Westfield State University, 2-1 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference women’s soccer match at Alumni Field on Saturday.
The Falcons’ game winner came after Westfield turned the ball over in the midfield. Whitney Mansfield rushed the ball up the middle of the field and slotted it to the left side for Victoria Flock, who was taken down from behind by an Owls defender. Goldenberg took the ensuing penalty kick and hit a low shot to the left side of the net for the game winner 7:36 into the overtime period.
Fitchburg had taken a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute of the match when Mansfield controlled the ball in the middle of the penalty area and fired a shot to the right post.
Westfield equalized the game in the 37th minute off of nice combination play as Jocelyn Hill passed to Casey Rotti, who slid the ball to the middle of the field for Taylor Grijalva, who then played the ball through to Michaela St. Cyr, who got behind the Fitchburg back line and beat Falcons’ goalkeeper Alexandra Foster for the goal and a 1-1 tie.
Westfield’s best scoring chance late in regulation came when Hannah Zannini got past the Fitchburg defense but her shot was saved by Foster with 6:14 to play.
Foster finished with 10 saves for the Falcons (3-5, 1-1 MASCAC) while Westfield goalkeeper Natalia Falcone stopped four shots.
Westfield State (3-3, 1-1 MASCAC) had a 19-9 edge in total shots and a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Westfield will next host Union (NY) College in a non-conference match on Wednesday, September 28 at Alumni Field. – Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports
