WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State sophomore Meredith Higgins (Enfield, Conn.) scored her fourth goal of the season, but the Owls were unable to overcome a two-goal first half deficit in a 3-1 setback against Fitchburg State in a MASCAC game from Alumni Field in Westfield, Mass.
The Owls now stand at 3-6 overall and 1-1 in the MASCAC while the Falcons advance to 2-0 in the conference and 2-6 on the season.
Westfield trailed 2-0 entering the second half, but got a quick third quarter strike off the stick of Higgins. Erin Lane (Canton, Mass.) jumped the passing lane to cause a turnover in the Owls defensive third of the field where she would carry the ball upfield into Falcons territory. She then backhanded a shot on goal which was saved by Jenna Morse (Leominster, Mass.) with the rebound landing in front of a charging Higgins who flipped home the goal to cut the deficit in half.
Four minutes after the Higgins goal, the Owls attempted to equalize the game as Kaleigh Murphy (Pembroke, Mass.) inched her way towards the front of the net, redirecting a shot at point blank range but the shot was batted aside by Morse.
Fitchburg dealt a devastating blow to the Owls comeback attempt 1:14 into the final quarter with Samantha Yates (Woodstock, Vt.) burying a penalty stroke attempt to stretch the Falcons lead back to two goals.
The Falcons built a two-goal first half to Sophia Yates (Woodstock, Vt.) and Olivia Narkevicius (Phillipston, Mass.). With less than five minutes to go in the first quarter, Samantha Jones (Uxbridge, Mass.) dished a shot towards the net that was tipped near the back post from Yates to begin the scoring.
Fitchburg increased their lead in the closing minute of the first half as Narkevicius collected her own rebound after Emma Gniadek (Worcester, Mass.) made a save, collecting the loose ball in a pile of Owls defenders where she would backhand a shot past a diving Gniadek and into the net for a 2-0 halftime advantage.
The Owls had difficulty generating sustained offensive pressure in part to the defense of the Falcons as Fitchburg outshot Westfield 21-12 in the match. Gniadek (L, 3-5) compiled double digit saves for the fourth time this season, recording ten saves on the afternoon. Morse (W, 2-5) made five saves for the Falcons.
Westfield State will remain in MASCAC play for their next game as the Owls travel to Salem State on Tuesday at 7:00 P.M. Fitchburg State returns home to face Worcester State for their next game on Tuesday at 4:00 P.M.