Field Hockey Falls to Westfield State, 4-0, in LEC Opener

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Westfield State University field hockey team posted a 4-0 shutout victory over Bridgewater State University in a Little East Conference (LEC) matchup on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field. The game marked the Little East opener for the host Bears.

The Owls improve to 3-2 on the season and 2-0 in the Little East, while the Bears fall to 0-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Junior Emily Martin (Southwick, Mass.) got the Owls on the board just 2:14 into the contest. Junior Skyla Harthcock (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.) set up Martin's team-leading eighth goal of the season with a short crossing pass to the front of the net.

That would be the only scoring in the first half as BSU freshman goalkeeper Madelyne Guidaboni (Hanson, Mass.) made ten saves over the first 30 minutes to help keep it a one-goal game.

Junior Corryn Moroney (Granby, Mass.) scored off the rebound of a Madison Ouellette (Uxbridge, Mass.) shot with 11:31 remaining in the third quarter to extend the Westfield lead to 2-0.

The Owls netted their third goal of the day on a penalty corner with a long strike from just inside the circle by freshman Kaleigh Murphy (Pembroke, Mass.). The goal was assisted by Erin Lane (Canton, Mass.).

Freshman Shannon Gover (Norwood, Mass.) capped of the scoring with her first collegiate goal with just under five minutes showing on the fourth quarter scoreboard. Gover tipped home a shot by Martin that came from just inside the circle off a penalty corner.

Guidaboni (Hanson, Mass.) turned away 17 shots in her first collegiate start between the pipes. Junior Carolyn Greendale (Natick, Mass.) added a defensive save for the Bears.

Three Westfield goalkeepers combined on the Owls' third shutout of the season. Juniors Paige Reisman (Milford, Mass.) and Lydia Sullivan (Amherst, Mass.), and freshman Emma Gniadek (Worcester, Mass.) all saw time in net. Reisman got the start and faced just one shot in just under 46 minutes of work as she collected her fourth win of the season.

Westfield finished with a decided 29-3 shot advantage on the afternoon as well as a 11-1 edge in penalty corners.

Both teams are back in action on Tuesday. The Bears entertain the Bulldogs of Dean College at 3:30, while the Owls travel to Rivier University for a seven o'clock game with the Raiders.

Notes: Bridgewater and Westfield have met every season since 1980 with the Bears now holding a 25-20-2 edge in the all-time series (17-7 at home).