Freshman midfielder Megan Griffin of Granby, Conn., continued her outstanding play with 12 draw controls, 5 ground balls, 2 goals and 1 assist vs. Eastern Connecticut State. (File photo by David Demarco)
MANSFIELD, Conn. – The Westfield State University women’s lacrosse team scored five consecutive goals in a seven-minute span midway through the second half to seize the momentum for good and post a 16-13 non-conference victory over Eastern Connecticut State University Tuesday night at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.
The win is the fifth straight for Westfield (7-2), in only its seventh season on the intercollegiate level. It is the third straight loss and fifth in the last six outings for Eastern (3-7), now 2-4 at home.
It was a game of streaks as Westfield put together scoring streaks of three straight to open the game, five in a row to end the first half and open the second, and later five in a row which stretched a two-goal lead to seven, 14-7, with 10 minutes left.
After giving up the first three goals of the match, Eastern answered with four straight – two by Daniela Marchitto and two by Erin Conn – to move out to its only lead of the game, 4-3, midway through the first half.
As has been its pattern this year, the Warriors fell behind early before rallying to close the gap in the final minutes. Down by that 14-7 score, the Warriors scored six of the next seven goals, finally pulling to within two on Meg Eremita’s unassisted goal with just over four minutes left.
Eastern won the ensuing draw which followed a Westfield timeout, but promptly turned the ball over and the Owls turned it into the clinching goal when Blair Smith scored her only goal of the match on an assist from Amanda Bouchard with 2:41 left.
Eastern again won the ensuing draw but again turned the ball over and Westfield ran out the clock.
Maura Stack (five goals) and Bouchard (three) – Westfield’s top scorers this year – led the Owls offensively. Conn scored nearly half (6) of Eastern’s goals, with Marchitto scoring three goals, winning three draws and picking up three ground balls.
Megan Griffin added to her team-leading total by winning 12 of Westfield’s 18 draws. Sadie Graham and Griffin also picked up five ground balls each.
After Eastern had pulled to within two, 9-7, 12 minutes into the second half, Griffin won three draws and Bridget Everett one and Westfield capitalized by scoring five straight goals, three by Stack.
Easten returns to Little East Conference action Saturday at Plymouth State University at 2 p.m. Westfield travels to Worcester this Saturday for a key MASCAC matchup.
