Rams Outlast Owls Comeback Effort in Overtime of MASCAC Semifinal

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Framingham State senior Hailey Baker (Peabody, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal in the golden goal overtime period as the Rams held off a late comeback effort from Westfield State in a 9-8 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Semifinal game from Alumni Field in Westfield, Mass. on Thursday night.

The Rams advance into the MASCAC Championship game for the seventh consecutive season and will face top-seeded Worcester State in the conference championship game on Saturday at 11:00 A.M.

Trailing by two goals with less than two minutes to play, the Owls rallied to even the game at eight apiece to force overtime. After a pair of Rams turnovers in their own end, Westfield gained possession in the offensive end.

Natalie DeMaio (Westwood, Mass.) found a cutting Mykenzie Black (Hopedale, Mass.) who split two Rams defenders and fired a low shot into the back of the net with 1:35 left in the game to cut the deficit to one goal.

Black then won a pivotal draw control which resulted in an initial shot from Arianna Andresen (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) which hit the side of the cage with the rebound deflecting to Emma Prattson (Tolland, Conn.) who set up Mercedes Rozzi (South Burlington, Vt.) for the equalizer on a high shot past the stick of Bella DiMare (Wakefield, Mass.) with 41 seconds to play in regulation.

The Owls won possession on the ensuing draw control, but were unable to convert as a shot on goal was deflected in front, sending the game to overtime.

With the Owls top draw controller serving a yellow card in Black, Prattson won the draw to begin overtime, but the Rams defense stood tall in the defensive end, surviving a high shot from DeMaio which eventually resulted in a shot clock violation for Westfield.

Framingham was quick to transition from defense to offense, which led to Alessia Lye (Hamden, Conn.) zipping a pass towards goal to a blazing Baker who beat her nearest defender before firing a high shot into the goal for the overtime winner.

Entering the fourth quarter with the game tied at five, Leah Green (Chelmsford, Mass.) was first on the board for either team, netting a free position goal to put Framingham up 6-5. About three minutes later, the Owls tied the game with a free position goal of their own as Black buried a shot with 10:34 left in the third.

Two separate green cards by the Owls resulted in two straight player-up markers for the Rams in a one minute span as Green notched her second goal of the period followed by Molly Lanier's tally shortly after to give Framingham a two-goal advantage. Neither team led by more than two goals for the entirety of the contest.

Westfield State got out to a two-goal lead to begin the game, holding Framingham scoreless in the opening frame thanks in part to the play in net from Kara Banagan (Niskayuna, N.Y.) who totaled four saves in a clean sheet in the first. Black and DeMaio were the Owls goal scorers in the first and in the entire first half as well with Black scoring or assisting on Westfield's first six markers.

Lanier provided the Rams with the offensive spark they needed in the second quarter, scoring three times in the frame to tie the contest at three all entering halftime.

Black finished with seven points for Westfield, five goals and two assists while DeMaio added two goals and one assist. Lanier led Framingham with four goals while Baker contributed two goals and two assists.

Banagan anchored the Owls tremendously on the evening, making 13 saves on 22 shots. DiMare made four saves in the winning effort.

For Westfield, their 2025 season comes to an end, finishing the year with an overall record of 7-11.