Women’s Lacrosse Drops Florida Opener Against Bowdoin

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State attacker Natalie DeMaio (Westwood, Mass.) scored a game-leading four goals but a late second quarter surge from Bowdoin proved to be the difference in a 14-9 setback for the Owls as part of the Spring Fling Tournament in Panama City Beach, Florida on Wednesday afternoon.

DeMaio collected five points on the afternoon to also lead all players. Mykenzie Black (Hopedale, Mass.) and Emma Prattson (Tolland, Conn.) added a three-point effort with one goal and two assists while Kylie Buchanan (Westfield, Mass.) deposited a pair of goals.

Mara Muse (Kennebunkport, Maine) and Lauren Burke (Wellesley, Mass.) paced the Polar Bears in scoring with three goals apiece. Tate Ryan (Skaneateles, N.Y.) and Molly Reed (New Canaan, Conn.) supplied two goals each for Bowdoin which advanced to 3-2 on the season.

The Polar Bears got off to a quick start, scoring four of the first five goals of the game with four different players finding the back of the net. Buchanan scored Westfield's lone goal of the quarter as Bowdoin took a 4-1 lead into the second period where momentum changed hands.

DeMaio sparked the Owls offense to start the second, scoring consecutive goals off assists from Black, then returned the favor to set up Prattson for the equalizer with 7:06 to play in the half. However, the momentum sharply turned in favor of the Polar Bears in the final six minutes of the period as Bowdoin would tally four straight markers and six of the final seven of the half, three off the stick of Muse, to enter the break ahead 10-5.

The Polar Bear lead increased to six goals late in third before DeMaio and Buchanan scored consecutive goals in the final 2:30 of the frame to trim the deficit to four goals entering the final period. Unfortunately, the Bowdoin defense stood tall in the fourth, holding the Owls to just one shot in the quarter while Burke added two more goals for the Polar Bears to put the game out of reach.

Sydney Smith (Dalton, Mass.) and Kara Banagan (Niskayuna, N.Y.) shared time in the net with Smith making seven saves while Banagan added two. Hannah Rubin (Manhasset, N.Y.) made two saves in a winning effort for Bowdoin.

Westfield State (0-4) will continue their challenging non-conference schedule tomorrow as the Owls play their second and final game of the Florida trip against Roger Williams at 2:00 P.M. Eastern, 1:00 P.M. Central time from Panama City Beach, Florida.