Rennich Tallies Twice as Owls Upend Pioneers

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State forward Jenn Rennich (Bedford, Mass.) scored two second-half goals as the Owls defeated Smith College 4-2 in a non-conference game on Wednesday afternoon from Northampton, Mass.

Westfield improves to 6-2-1 at the midpoint of the season while Smith falls to 3-4-2 overall.

The Owls struck with the first goal of the game just as time was expiring in the half as Erin White (Plympton, Mass.) secured her first goal of the season on a low shot that beat Smith goalkeeper Skylar Smith (Carlisle, Mass.)

The Pioneers responded three minutes into the second half as Alex Kiernan (Schwenksville, Penn.) netted the equalizer on a shot labeled to the lower portion of the net.

At the 55^th minute, Rennich collected the game-winning goal on a shot to the upper-right part of the goal, giving Rennich her 12^th goal of the season. Three minutes later, sophomore Delaney Parker (Orange, Mass.) tallied her fifth of the year to give the Owls a 3-1 lead heading into the final third of the match.

Smith sophomore Riley McKenna (Arlington, Mass.) chipped into the deficit at the 66^th minute, scoring her second goal of the campaign to put the Pioneers down a goal. Despite the late comeback effort, it was Rennich who put the game out of reach, burying her 13^th goal of the season at the 75^th minute to clinch the victory.

First-year goalkeeper Julia Robak (Chicopee, Mass.) picked up her third win of the season, stopping five shots on net. Smith saved seven shots for the Pioneers.

The Owls outshot Smith 15-10, including a 14-9 shots on goal advantage.

Westfield State will return home on Saturday at 11:00 AM as the Owls host Worcester State in a rematch from last year's MASCAC Championship game.