Sarah Pliszka scored the game-winning goal vs. Western Connecticut; she now has a team-high 10 goals this season. (Photo by Mickey Curtis)
DANBURY, Conn. – Junior forward Sarah Pliszka (Enfield, CT) scored the game-winning goal with five minutes remaining in regulation to lift the visiting Westfield State University field hockey team to a 3-2 victory over Western Connecticut State University at The WAC on Senior Day, Saturday.
Pliszka deposited her team-leading 10th goal of the season after a pass from Taylor Chase (Holden, MA) from the right side made its way toward goal and by Western keeper Courtney Hearn (New Fairfield, CT).
The Owls, now 10-5 overall and 6-4 in the Little East Conference, got on the scoreboard first when Chase finished off a nice pass from Kelly Kenney (Suffield, CT) in th 14th minute of play.
The Colonials knotted the score at 1-1 when Deanne Mastrocola (Goshen, CT) finished off a rebound of her initial shot, which hit the post, 22:19 into the first half.
Westfield took a 2-1 lead into intermission when Liz Hall (Southwick, MA) finished off a break-away, which was initiated by Pliszka, in the 28th minute.
Western, 5-10 overall and 3-7 in the conference, drew even when Kim Gigante (Bedford Hills, NY) was on the scoring end of two passes from Elizabeth Vitale (West Milford, NJ) and Rachel Duffy (Marlton, NJ) with 12:06 left in regulation.
Hearn made 10 saves for Western while Khrystyna Mitchell (Shelburne Falls, MA) made five saves for the winners.
Western celebrated the careers of six senior prior to the start of the game on Saturday. Nicole Andreasen (New Fairfield, CT), Cristina Luis (Danbury, CT), Deanne Mastrocola (Goshen, CT), Elizabeth and Victoria Vitale (West Milford, NJ) and Leandra Zaklukiewicz (Little Falls, NY) played in their final home game on Saturday.
The Colonials finish the regular season with two games on the road, beginning with Tuesday’s 7 pm match up at William Paterson. They wrap up the regular season at University of Southern Maine on Saturday, October 27 at noon.
