WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State forward Jenn Rennich (Bedford, Mass.) registered a hat trick as the Owls rolled a to 5-0 conference-opening victory over Framingham State on Saturday afternoon from Maple Street Field in Framingham, Mass. The three goals scored by Rennich move her into a tie for sixth on the program's all-time scoring list, joining Lisa Benoit (1982-85), Tammie Maruco (1983-86) and teammate Delaney Parker (Orange, Mass.) with 35 career goals. Her 108 career points moves Rennich to third all-time as well, tying Meg Gearin (2006-09).
The Owls have now won three consecutive games, improving to 4-1-1 overall and 1-0 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. Framingham drops to 0-6 and 0-1 in the conference.
The Owls broke a 0-0 deadlock with a pair of goals in the final five minutes of the first half. In the 41st minute Rennich broke away, pulling the keeper off the line and placed a shot inside the post for the game's first goal. Two minutes later, Grace McDermott (Weymouth, Mass.) sent a pass ahead to Parker who made a move and lofted a shot into the net for her fourth goal of the season and a 2-0 lead for the Owls.
The Rams had a chance in the opening minutes of the second half as Grayson Tellier (Auburn, N.H.) took a thru ball behind the Owls defense, but her shot rolled just wide of the net.
The Owls extended the lead to 3-0 in the 64th minute when Rennich found the back of the net for her second of the game off a feed from Victoria Marin (Greenfield, Mass.).
Rennich finished off the hat trick with just over nine minutes left in the game. Livie Crooks (Wilbraham, Mass.) sent the ball ahead to Rennich who got behind the keeper and converted it into the empty net for the 4-0 lead. She now has more goals (eight) then games played (six).
Jaida Cochran (Middleboro, Mass.) capped the scoring in the game when she converted a free kick from 25-yards out with under a minute remaining in the game.
Westfield held a 32-2 edge in shots for the game with Lauryn Davis (Templeton, Mass.), Julia Robak (Chicopee, Mass.) and Sarah Fuller (Weymouth, Mass.) combining for the shutout.
Jetta Oskirko (Lancaster, Mass.) started in net for the Rams and made 11 stops, while Eliana Klein (Ellicott City, MD) had two saves in relief.
Westfield State will return home for a mid-week, non-conference game against Eastern Connecticut State on Wednesday at 7:00 P.M.
Parts of release courtesy of Framingham State sports information