Owls Blaze Past MCLA, 16-3

WESTFIELD, Mass. –  Nicole Rinkus scored three goals for Westfield State to lead the Owls to an 16-3 win over Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference women's lacrosse game at Alumni Field on Tuesday evening.

With the win, Westfield State improves to 11-5 overall and 6-0 in the MASCAC.  The Owls won their eighth-straight game to match the third-longest winning streak in program history.

MCLA dips to 2-8 overall and 0-6 in the MASCAC.

Westfield led 5-1 after one period, with Rinkus tallying a pair of markers for the Owls.   Summer Nichols opened the scoring for MCLA with a nice underhand goal that tied the score at 1-1 in the early going.

Westfield led 8-2 at the half behind three goals from Rinkus and a goal and three assists from Emma Prattson

Sydney Smith made three saves for Westfield State.  Emma Prattson added a goal and three assists, with Emma Cretella handing out four assists.  Kiely Hafensteiner, Emma Roe, Natalie DeMaio, and Arianna Andresen all tallied two goals for the Owls.   Westfield used all 21 field players in the game, with only goalkeeper Kara Banagan held in reserve.

Lori Lester made eight stops in goal for the Trailblazers.  Julia Graham led MCLA with two goals

Westfield will play its final regular season game on Saturday with a 12 noon start at Framingham State, with the top seed in the conference tournament on the line.  The Owls can lock up sole possession of first place and the league's regular-season title with a win over the Rams.

MCLA will close its regular season on Saturday at Bridgewater State.