BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Senior midfielder Emma Cretella (Cheshire, Conn.) scored a game-high six goals for the visiting Westfield State University women's lacrosse team as they cruised to a 21-6 victory over Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) rival Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.
The Owls improve to 6-5 on the season and 2-0 in the MASCAC, while the Bears fall to 5-7 overall and 0-2 in conference play. The Owls, who trail the all-time series (9-17), avenged a MASCAC Tournament semifinal round setback to the Bears a year ago. Westfield has won now won three straight games.
Senior midfielder Cretella netted all six goals in the first half, while senior attack Cassidy Harvey (Niskayuna, N.Y.) tallied five goals to lead the way for the visitors.
Cretella scored her 100th career point atWestfield, become the fourth member of the Owls' balanced veteran team to do so this season.
Westfield led 4-1 after one and closed out the second quarter with an 8-0 run take a 14-3 advantage into the break. The Owls tallied the only four goals of the third quarter and opened up their biggest lead of the contest at 21-4 following a strike by freshman midfielder Mercedes Rozzi (South Burlington, Vt.) with 6 ½ minutes left to play in the final period.
The Owls held a decided 34-12 shot advantage for the game. Ten of their 21 goals came off free position attempts (10-for-12). Westfield also successfully converted 13 of 14 clear attempts.
Bridgewater finished with a 17-13 edge in draw controls with sophomore midfielder Erin McIntyre (Tewksbury, Mass.) leading the way with eight. The Bears, however, went just 4-for-11 on clear attempts and committed 18 turnovers.
Junior attack Savannah Herrington (Kinnelon, N.J.) and sophomore attack Camryn Gonsalves (East Bridgewater, Mass.) tallied two goals apiece for the hosts. Freshman attack Ashley Silva (Rowley, Mass.) notched her first collegiate point as she assisted on Herrington's second goal late in the fourth quarter.
Junior goalkeeper Kara Banagan (Niskayuna, N.Y.) played the first 45 minutes between the pipes for the Owls and made four saves to record her third win of the season. Sophomore netminder Sydney Smith (Dalton, Mass.) started the fourth quarter and turned aside one shot in 15 minutes of action.
BSU senior Olivia Kerrigan (Braintree, Mass.) and junior Laura Giovaniello (Walpole, Mass.) combined to make six saves in goal for Bridgewater State.
Both teams are off until next Friday night. The Bears head to Fitchburg State University for a seven o'clock MASCAC affair with the Falcons, while the Owls travel to Skidmore College for a 6:30 game with the Thoroughbreds.
-- release courtesy BSU sports information