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WESTFIELD – Westfield State defended its Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference (MASCAC) women’s soccer tournament championship with a 3-1 victory over MCLA on Saturday evening, Nov. 7.
The Owls, 16-1-2 overall with a school-record 16 victories in a season and an 18-game non-losing streak, earned an NCAA Tournament bid for the second straight season by defeating MCLA (14-5) for second time in eight days. Westfield clinched the MASCAC regular season crown with a 2-1 victory at MCLA Oct. 31.
Tournament MVP Kate MacLellan keyed the Owls’ offensive attack. The junior midfielder from Wilbraham had two assists, including a dish on the game-winning goal. MacLellan set a school record for assists in a season (15) and tied a school record for career assists (31). All-New England standout Lynne Cusick (1988-91) also has 31 career assists and is the former school record holder for season assists (13).
Westfield took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute on a goal from freshman Colleen Bazinet (Charlton). Assisting on the goal was junior Jill Ranney (Southwick).
MCLA tied the score in the 24th minute on a breakaway goal by Jesse Tietgens (Stamford, VT), her 25th of the season.
Senior Meg Gearin (Groton, MA) - the MASCAC regular season most valuable player - scored the game-winning goal in the 30th minute off a corner kick feed from MacLellan. Westfield added an insurance tally early in the second period when MacLellan fed senior Colleen Kenney (Longmeadow) for a score.
Westfield out-shot MCLA, 20-5. MCLA goalie Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, NY) recorded nine saves.
The Westfield State women's soccer team is NCAA Tournament bound with a sparkling 16-1-2 record.
The game-winning goal by Meg Gearin, following a Kate MacLellan corner kick, slices through MCLA players and into the net. Photo by
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