SPRINGFIELD – For the second time in as many days, the Springfield College field hockey team got out to a fast start and never looked back, as it defeated Westfield State, 5-0, in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon at Stagg Field.
With the win, the Pride is off to a 2-0 start for the fourth-consecutive season, while Westfield State, playing its first game of the 2017 season is now 0-1. Springfield College dominated the game, holding a 26-1 shot advantage, as the Pride was also awarded 20 penalty corners over 70 minutes of play. In net for Springfield, Emmalie Drake (Pittsford, N.Y.) did not need to make a save to pick up her second win of the year, while her Owls’ counterpart, Molly Duff-Still (Hatchville, Mass.) made seven stops in the game.
Senior midfielder Dani Sweet (Charlton, Mass.) continued her strong start to the season, as she recorded two more goals in Sunday’s win, while classmate Paige Laperle (Auburn, Mass.) also netted a pair. Sophomore forward Belle Copponi (Dover, Mass.) also added another goal to her season toal, which is now three in two games.
Just 2:47 into the contest Springfield College got on the board when Copponi buried a loose ball in front of the Westfield State net, giving the Pride a 1-0 advantage. The maroon and white doubled its lead just 7:53 later when Maggie Kennedy (Clay, N.Y.) let one fly from just over the midfield line, which was redirected by Laperle into the back of the net to make it 2-0, Springfield. Laperle would convert another chance with 13:19 on the clock to make it 3-0, beofre Sweet ended the first-half scoring on a penalty corner sent in by Laperle in which the senior captain fired on cage, finding its way past Duff-Still to make it 4-0.
Scoring was quiet in the second half until Sweet broke the silence with a nifty move at the top of the arch and saavy finish in front of the cage, pushing the Pride’s lead to five with 18:15 on the clock.
VOLLEYBALL FINISHES 1-2: Westfield State topped Emmanuel College, 25-15, 25-22, 25-19, in a consolation round game, as the Owls picked up their first win of the season to finish 1-2 at the Springfield College Invitational tournament.
The Owls fell to the hosts on Friday night, 25-15, 25-20, and 20-9. Brianna Starkey led Westfield State with seven kills, while Ainsley McLoed added five. Brigid Murray dished out 16 assists for the Owls, and Lizzie Taylor led Westfield with 16 digs.
Rivier College topped Westfield, 25-8, 25-22, 25-9 on Saturday morning. Complete statistics from the Rivier and Emmanuel matches were not immediately available. Complete box scores will be posted when available.
Westfield is now 1-2 on the season. The Owls will be back in action on Tuesday evening at Keene State University for a non-conference match up.
STALEMATE: Competing on the second day of the Springfield College Invitational, the Eastern Connecticut and Westfield State women’s soccer programs played to a 1-1 draw on Saturday at Brock-Affleck Field. With the draw, Eastern Connecticut is now 1-0-1, while Westfield State falls to 0-1-1 overall.
In net for the Owls, Natalia Falcone (Sutton, Mass.) was strong in the cage as she totaled 10 saves on the evening, while her counterpart, Kayla Labrecque (Westhampton, Mass.) made one stop in 110 minutes of action.
It took almost two thirds of the first half for either team to get on the scoreboard, but Westfield State was first when Michaela St. Cyr (Saugus, Mass.) knocked home a corner kick sent in by Lydia Kinsman (Granville, Mass.) with 16:22 to play in the stanza. The Owls would lock down defensively, fending off a flurry of Eastern Connecticut chances towards the end of the half to hold a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
After a few more attempts on net for the Warriors, Eastern Connecticut finally pulled even when Tara Shayler (Avon, Conn.) carried the ball down the right flank before centering a ball to senior forward Emily Becher (Brooklyn, Conn.), who connected with the cross in the air and sent it past Falcone to make it a 1-1 game with 19:02 to play in the game.
The two sides would trade more opportunities down the stretch, but neither were able to break the tie before the end of regulation, sending the game into overtime.
Eastern Connecticut got the early chances in the first overtime period, but when Westfield State got their chance, they made it count, as Nicole Chretien (North Attleboro, Mass.) ripped a shot from outside the box that sailed over Labrecque’s arms, but hit the cross bar and rolled out of bounds. Eastern Connecticut’s best chance of the second half came with 1:24 remaining in the first overtime period when Becher let one go on cage, but Falcone came up with a big save to keep the Warriors at bay.
Both sides played back-and-forth soccer for the second overtime period, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
HEARTBREAKER: Junior Sergio Martin Acuna knocked in his first goal as a Husky to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 1-0 win over the Westfield State University Owls in the third game of the 2017 Husky Challenge Tournament at Hannaford Field.
With the win, Southern Maine starts the season 2-0 and captures the Husky Challenge Tournament. Westfield State is 1-1 on the season.
As the tournament champions, Southern Maine earned four spots on the All-Tournament team including sophomore Sam Anderson (Middletown, Conn./Bristol Central), senior Charlie Mull (Portland, Maine/Cheverus), freshman Joseph Kalilwa (Lewiston, Maine) and tournament Most Valuable Player Richard Glemawu (Accra, Ghana/South Kent (Conn.).
Locked in a scoreless battle, Southern Maine broke through midway through the second half, and then held for the win. It is the first time since the 2007 season that the Huskies have started their season with a 2-0-0 mark. Martin Acuna benefitted from an adept touch from freshman Joseph Kalilwa (Lewiston, Maine) for his first goal of the season in the 68th minute of the game. Kalilwa took a service out of the air and flicked in on to Martin Acuna’s feet on the far post.
Holding onto a 1-0 lead, Southern Maine relied on the outstanding efforts of Glemawu in goal. Glemawu improved his collegiate record to 2-0, and recorded his first career shutout making eight saves, and several tough clearances.
Westfield State held a 19-4 advantage in shots and a 9-1 lead in corner kicks, and had solid attempts on goal from Muttie and Moriarty, but Westfield could not put one past Glemawu.
Westfield State hosts Albertus Magnus in their home opener on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. – Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports
