Field Hockey Powers Past WestConn, 4-1

WESTFIELD, Mass. — Caroline Andrade  (Watertown, Mass.) scored a goal and added an assist to lead Westfield State to a 4-1 win over Western Connecticut State University in a non-conference field hockey game at Alumni Field on Wednesday night.

Andrade finished with three points, but her offensive pressure factored in all four Owls goals.

Westfield got on the board first scoring just 2:49 in as  Andrade dribbled through traffic, ripped a shot from outside the top of the circle that Kaleigh Murphy (Pembroke, Mass.) tipped up and into the cage for a 1-0 lead.

WestConn tied it 1-1 on Alyssa Montalvo's (Holbrook, NY) goal, assisted by Ellenoire Schoen (Newtown, Conn.), After  the end of a penalty corner play, Westfield tried to clear the ball but couldn't, and Schoen passed from the right side near the end line to Montalvo at near post for the goal.

Lilianna Atkins (Agawam, Mass.) tipped in the rebound of Andrade's shot from right side with 1:20 left in the first half to give the Owls a 2-1 lead at the break.

WestConn had slightly the better of the run of play in the first half, putting six shots on goal to the Owls five, and holding a 4-3 advantage in penalty corners in a wide open half with end to end action.  

Westfield broke the game open in the fourth quarter.

Andrade stickhandled through the circle and found the net with a backhanded shot to give the Owls some insurance with a 3-1 lead with 13:13 left in the game

Three minutes later, Westfield  boosted the lead to 4-1, after a WestConn giveaway in their defensive end, the Owls attacked, with Kacey Curran (Fall River, Mass./Durfee)  finalizing by knocking in the rebound of an Andrade shot that yielded a defensive save from WestConn's Kaitlyn Biase (Neconset, N.Y.).  Off the save the ball deflected directly to Curran on the doorstep of the goal mouth.

Andrade has totaled four goals and two assists through her first five collegiate games after missing the first six games of the season due to injury.  Murphy moved into sole possession of eighth place on the Owls career points list with 76, passing Susie Lehto '79 who now sits eighth with 74 points.

Westfield improves to 8-3, on the season, while WestConn is now 4-5.

Jaden Kilmer (East Islip, N.Y.) finished with nine saves for WestConn, while Olivia LaBrie (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire) made eight saves in goal for the Owls.

Westfield State welcomed players from Westfield Youth Field Hockey before the game.  The youngsters warmed up on the field with the Owls before cheering the team on during the game.

Westfield will cap a busy three-game week with a mascot conference matchup with Salem State on Saturday at Alumni Field.  Please note the game will start at 4:30 p.m., a slight change from earlier published schedules.