Senior Day: Owls Celebrate With 3-2 Win !

Westfield MA — Sophomore forward Kiana Muratsuka  (Mililani, HI) scored a goal and added an assist for Westfield State as the Owls took down the Plymouth Panthers, 3-2 on Westfield's senior day.

Westfield improves to 10-6-1 on the season with the non-conference win, while Plymouth is now 5-8-3.

The Owls first goal came from Morgan Berthiaume (Webster, MA) at the 25th minute. The Owls took possession at the thirty yard line where they connected a series of passes between one another that discombobulated the defense. Berthiaume was assisted by Murastuka, who fed a pass between two defenders that landed right on Berthiaume's foot. Berthiaume's shot was a hard shot to the right corner. Plymouth goalkeeper Drea Oswell (Stafford Springs, CT) dove to save the ball but the kick was over her head and found itself in the back of the net.

In the second half, the Panthers came out hard as Olivia Howard (Berwick, MA) knotted the game a goal in the 50th minute. The goal was unassisted as the ball bounced to Howard just outside the top of the eighteen where she took a hard shot that skyed over Westfield's goalkeeper Michaella Moncecchi's (Windsor, MA) head.

It was a 1-1 match until the 76th minute when Ryan Moran (Manchester, NH) set up Jaida Cochran (Middleboro, MA) for a goal off the crossbar, shooting from the top right corner of the eighteen. The ball deflected straight down and the assistant referee raised his flag to indicate the ball crossed the goal line, making the score 2-1 in the Owls favor.

The Owls third goal came in the 85th minute of the match as Murastuka dribbled the ball past four Plymouth State defenders into the back of the net giving the Owls a 3-1 lead.

The Panthers weren't ready to go away as Nevaeh Pertuzzi (Newmarket, NH) notched a goal within the same minute as Westfield. Pertuzzi was assisted by Emily Wilson (Salem, NH) who sent her a ball that landed just inside the eighteen. Pertuzzi was able to flick the ball over Moncecchi's head who came out to challenge. The Panthers made the Owls work for the 3-2 win as the Owls played possession for the last fir minutes of the match.

For the Panthers, goalie Oswell totaled eight saves. McKayla Palhof (Loudon, NH) led the Panthers in shots with seven.

For the Owls, Michaella Moncecchi totaled six saves in her first career start in net. Morgan Berthiaume (Webster, MA) led the Owls in shots with six.

Westfield honored its three seniors before the match, as Moncecchi, midfielder Erin White (Plympton, Mass.) and defender Jenna Hurlburt (Kingston, Mass.) were all noted for their accomplishments with the Owls.

The next game for the Panthers is Friday October 27 against UMass Dartmouth.

The Owls will play their final regular season game at home Friday October 27, with a MASCAC Conference match against Salem State.

-- Written by Jordan Aguiar, sports information intern