Owls Ground Falcons, 19-2

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State sophomore Natalie DeMaio (Westwood, Mass.) scored a game-high four goals as the Owls cruised to a 19-2 victory over Fitchburg State on a Friday night from Alumni Field in Westfield, Mass. Westfield State matched their season high in goals scored after posting the same total this past Wednesday against Keene State.

The Owls now own a five-game winning streak, advancing their overall record to 8-5 with a perfect 3-0 mark in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Falcons fall to 5-8 on the season and 0-3 in the MASCAC.

Junior attacker Cassidy Connolly (Woburn, Mass.) got the scoring started at the 13:32 mark, notching her first of three goals in the game. Fitchburg State would answer 44 seconds later on a goal by junior Eva Kozikowski (Portsmouth, N.H.).

That was as close as the game would get as the Owls then closed the half by scoring the next ten goals, which included a pair of goals by junior Nicole Rinkus (Pembroke, Mass.). Connolly rounded up the scoring in the half with her third of the night, giving her 11 goals in her last three games. Westfield State led 11-1 heading into the break.

Kozikowski opened the second-half scoring with her team-leading 30^th goal of the season with Alexis Raymond (Tewksbury, Mass.) registering the assist. From that point forward, the Owls rallied off the final eight goals of the game as DeMaio scored two consecutive goals to end the third quarter to give her four on the evening.

Senior Victoria Paras (Medford, Mass.) piled up six assists in the contest, which is tied for the third highest total in a single game in school history.

Connolly and Rinkus each finished with three goals apiece, while junior Megan Bailey (Quincy, Mass.) and sophomore Kiely Hafensteiner (Niskayuna, N.Y.) both netted a pair of goals. First-year Emma Prattson (Tolland, Conn.) tallied a goal and three assists, while junior Emma Cretella (Cheshire, Conn.) added a goal and two assists. Cassidy Harvey (Niskayuna, N.Y.), Hannah Collins (Niskayuna, N.Y.), and Ashley Charlton (Braintree, Mass.) all scored once in the victory.

Sophomore Kara Banagan (Niskayuna, N.Y.) got the start in net for the Owls, recording her fourth win of the season after registering three saves. Falcons' goalkeeper Alyson Cote (South Hadley, Mass.) took the loss despite stopping 12 shots on net.

The Owls had a heavy advantage in the shot department, out-shooting the Falcons 39-8.

Westfield State will return to action Tuesday as the Owls travel to MCLA for a MASCAC game beginning at 5:00 P.M. Fitchburg State visits Salem State on Wednesday for a 7:00 P.M. start time.