Sophomore Ashley Bovat – the 2012 MASCAC rookie of the year – scored the game-winning goal in Westfield’s 2013 season opener.
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – After a tight opening period that saw neither team score, the Owls of Westfield State University (1-0) found the back of the net twice in the second half to defeat the State University of New York at New Paltz women’s soccer team (0-1), 2-0, on the first day of the Michelle Vargas-Robin Memorial Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Alumni Field.
Michelle Vargas-Robin was a women’s soccer and softball student-athlete at New Paltz from 1991-93, who, at the young age of 36, lost a hard-fought battle with cancer. This tournament, which is in its third year, is named after her to celebrate her life and commitment to embodying all of the qualities that we all hope to attain as human beings.
Westfield State’s Ashley Bovat deflected a pass from Sarah Sypek at the 63-minute mark into the net to end the scoreless tie and give the Owls the lead. Emily Carroll added another goal in the 85th minute on a beautiful blast from 30 yards to give the Owls the 2-0 victory.
Sophomore goalkeeper Krysten Kane (Macedon, N.Y./Wayne Central) shouldered the loss, her first as a Hawk, despite an impressive 13 saves. Westfield State’s Jess Habif needed just a pair of saves to claim the shutout victory.
Westfield State put 15 shots on net in Saturday’s contest, while the Hawks placed just two on frame. A bunch of close calls led the Hawks to 10 corner kick chances compared to the Owls’ six.
In the second tournament contest of the day, New York University (1-0) defeated Salve Regina University (0-1), 5-1.
The pairings were pre-determined for both days of the tournament and Sunday, Sept. 1, will feature Westfield State vs. Salve Regina in the morning game at 11 a.m. New Paltz will then close out the tournament with a matchup against NYU at approximately 1:30 p.m.
