WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State senior Bre Foley (South Hadley, Mass.) tipped in the game-winning goal with 5:25 remaining in the game to lift the Owls to a 2-1 victory over Framingham State as part of senior night in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game from Alumni Field on Saturday.
The Owls finish the regular season on a six-game winning streak, and tie the program record for most wins in a single season, picking up their 12th win of the campaign which was last accomplished in 2011. Overall, Westfield enters postseason play with a 12-7 record and an 8-2 mark in conference play. The Rams drop to 9-9 overall and 5-5 in league action.
With the game tied at one goal apiece, the Owls were awarded a penalty corner with just under six minutes left in regulation. Foley initiated the corner attempt, then worked her way towards the front of the cage where she was able to redirect a shot from Madison Ouellette (Uxbridge, Mass.) into the back of the net to put the Owls ahead 2-1.
The Rams immediately pressured the Owls defense as Westfield managed to fend off a late penalty corner attempt, which ended with a shot from top goal-scorer Ashley Malmquist (Medfield, Mass.) which was denied by Owls' keeper Paige Reisman (Milford, Mass.). After the save, the Owls were able to possess the clock out, securing the victory.
Westfield opened the scoring in the first quarter beginning with a shot from Skyla Harthcock (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.) that was kicked away by Rams goalie Kaitlyn Tello (Nashua, N.H.) with the rebound finding the stick of Corryn Moroney (Granby, Mass.) who buried her fourth of the season to take a 1-0 lead.
Framingham found the equalizer at the end of the first quarter with Malmquist receiving a feed from Isabella Kondi (Canaan, N.H.), then weaved through a slew of Owls defenders before depositing her 12th tally of the season to tie the contest.
The score would remain even at one until the later stages of the match where Foley would lift the Owls to their tenth victory in their last 11 games played.
The Owls outshot the Rams 15-10 in the game, including a 9-4 shots on goal advantage. Tello (L, 9-9) was strong in net for the Rams, compiling seven saves. Reisman (W, 5-2) picked up three saves on the night.
Prior to the game, the Owls honored their nine seniors: Madison Ouellette, Emily Martin, Molly Finnegan, Sarah Richard, Skyla Harthcock, Corryn Moroney, Morgan Wichmann, Bre Foley, and Paige Reisman.
Westfield and Framingham will enter postseason play in the MASCAC Tournament with the Rams playing in a first-round game with an opponent and time to be announced. The Owls earn a first-round bye as the second overall seed in the league and will host a MASCAC Semifinal game from Alumni Field on Friday with the opponent and time to be determined at a later date.
