Hayes Leads Field Hockey to 2-1 Win over Westfield State

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior midfielder Samantha Hayes (Norwood, Mass.) tallied a pair of goals to lead the Bridgewater State University field hockey team to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over visiting Westfield State University in a Little East Conference (LEC) contest on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

The host Bears improve to 6-5 on the season and 4-4 in the Little East, while the Owls fall to 5-8 overall and 3-4 in conference play.

Freshman forward Cheryl Latona (Granby, Conn.) scored off a penalty corner in the 23rd minutes to open the scoring for the visitors. Latona redirected a shot by junior midfielder Anna Matthews (Auburn, Mass.) into the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season.

The Owls would take the 1-0 lead into the break.

Hayes tied it up at 1-1 in the 50th minute as she scored off a penalty corner. Following a short centering pass from sophomore defender Kim Kowalick (Groveland, Mass.), Hayes fired a shot towards the right side of the net that deflected off a Westfield stick into the top right corner.

Hayes notched her team-leading 14th goal of the season in 59th minute to complete the comeback. The scoring strike came off a penalty corner feed from senior midfielder Julianne Kilduff (Bellingham, Mass.) as Hayes stick-handled in an slipped a shot inside the right post.

Bridgewater State finished with a decided 18-6 shot advantage as well as an 11-3 in penalty corner attempts.

Senior netminder Allison Chappell (Raynham, Mass.) made two saves to record her fifth win off the season for the Bears. Freshman keeper Riley Goulet (Marion, Mass.) turned aside eight shot in the setback for the Owls.

With her two goals, Hayes increased her career total to 38 as she tied Brittany Cullinane (2013-16) for fourth place on the Bears' all-time goal scoring list. Hayes' 14 goals matches her career high set last season.

The Little East schedule continues for both team on Tuesday evening. The Bears travel to Keene State College to take on the Owls at 6:30, while the Owls entertain the Vikings of Salem State University at seven.