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Parker, Rennich Carry Owls to Victory Over Bridgewater 3-2

Delaney Parker (File photo)
Delaney Parker (File photo)

Westfield, Mass. – First-year forward Delaney Parker (Orange, Mass.) tallied two goals and an assist, while senior midfielder Jenn Rennich (Bedford, Mass.) notched a goal and a pair of helpers to lead the visiting Westfield State University women's soccer team to a 3-2 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) win over Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

The Owls improve to 9-4-1 on the season and a perfect 5-0 in the MASCAC with the win, while the Bears fall to 5-5-1 overall and 2-1-1 in conference play.

The Owls opened the scoring in the 31st minute as Rennich notched her sixth goal of the season. Rennich redirected a crossing pass from Parker that deflected off a BSU defender and into the back of the net.

McDuffie knotted the score at 1-1 in the 37th minute with her team-leading seventh goal of the 2021 campaign. Junior forward Michelle Belcher (Norton, Mass.) sent a corner kick toward the back post and McDuffie one-timed a shot inside the near post.

Bears first-year forward Bailey Brown (Plymouth, Mass.) potted her first collegiate goal in the 55th minute to stake the Bears to a 2-1 lead. A goal line crossing pass from senior forward Madelyn Morin (East Longmeadow, Mass.) eluded the Westfield keeper as well as a defender. Brown corralled the pass and easily deposited a shot into the wide-open cage. McDuffie picked up the secondary assist on the strike.

Trailing by a goal late in the second half, the Owls turned to Parker who evened the score at the 70th minute. Rennich forced a turnover near midfield and slipped a nice pass to a streaking Parker who beat the on-coming BSU net minder with a shot into the center of the net.

The Owls capitalized on another Bridgewater defensive breakdown with five minutes left to play in the game to take a 3-2 lead. Rennich dribbled to the top of the 18 and slipped a pass to Parker on the left who slid a shot under the diving Bears' goalkeeper for what proved to be the game-winner. For Parker, the goal marked her NCAA Division III leading 21st of the season.

Bridgewater State finished with a 21-18 shot advantage for the game as well as a 4-3 edge in corner kick attempts.

Junior Lauryn Davis (Templeton, Mass.) made seven saves to record her eighth win of the season between the pipes for the visitors. Senior goalkeeper Tory Viola-Laughery (Brockton, Mass.) turned aside five shots in the setback for the hosts.

Westfield State, who are winners of seven of their last eight games, will host UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday at 7:00 P.M. from Alumni Field in Westfield, Mass. in The Bears are back in action on Wednesday night as they travel to Brandeis University for a seven o'clock game with the Judges.