FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Framingham State jumped out to a 5-0 lead, then held on down the stretch to defeat Westfield State, 13-9, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game on Saturday.

The game, the Owls first official intercollegiate game since the pandemic halted play in March 2020, was a rematch of the 2019 Conference championship game.

The Owls got on the board with 21 minutes remaining in the half on a goal from junior Kelly Gearin. 

Westfield opened the second half with back-to-back goals from Natalie DeMaio, cutting the Rams lead to 7-6 with 27 minutes on the clock, but that was close as the Owls would get.

Framingham grabbed a 10-7 advantage on a free position shot from Hannah McMahon with 10:57 to play.   Westfield cut the lead back to two on two occasions, the last on goal from Sam Donohoe with 6:38 left, but the Rams netted the final two goals of the game to hold on for the win.

Westfield was led by three goals each from Cassidy Harvey and DeMaio. Kara Banagan made 12 saves in goal. 

Framingham (3-0, 1-0 MASCAC) was led with four goals apiece from McMahon and Hannah Guerin.  Goalie Hannah Allen made 10 saves.

Westfield State (0-1, 0-1 MASCAC) will be back in action with a game against Fitchburg State on Thursday.