Westfield State Runs Past Fitchburg State, 5-1

Miller and Pease lift Owls to second MASCAC victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. (October 2, 2010) – The Fitchburg State women's soccer team endured its second MASCAC setback this afternoon, falling to Westfield State University, 5-1 at Elliot Field.

MELANIE BERENT

Fitchburg State started the contest off strong as senior Katie Hayward (Townsend, Mass./North Middlesex) converted the game's opening goal off the Falcon corner kick. Senior Courtney Kimball (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) set the corner from the far right side and found Hayward deep the box for a header in the 16th minute.

Westfield State quickly responded, registering three consecutive goals to post a two-goal lead at the break. Sophomore Kayley Miller (Ludlow, Mass./Ludlow) opened the Owls scoring in the 18th minute, hitting the bottom right corner of the net from the center channel off an Ali Pease (Ludlow, Mass./Ludlow) assist. Miller added her second goal of the contest just six minutes later on a cross shot from the left side before setting up the Owls third score of the half off a perfect header from sophomore Colleen Bazinet (Charlton, Mass./Shepherd Hill).

In the second half, Westfield State extended its lead early as Miller complete her hat-trick in the opening five minutes. Miller received a pass from before hitting home for her team-leading seventh goal of the season. Pease then added the icing on the cake for the Owls, notching her second goal of the year with a give and go play from Miller in the 59th minute.

Fitchburg State held a slim 18-17 advantage in shots throughout the contest, but Westfield State capitalized on its efforts, finishing five of its 12 targets on net. Freshman Jess Habif (Holliston, Mass./Holliston) earned the victory for the Owls with 11 stops in the complete game effort. Junior Melanie Berent (West Hartford, Conn./Conard) notched four stops in her 54 minute effort for Fitchburg State, while freshman Jillian Kirouac (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) totaled three stops over the final 36 minutes of action.  

Fitchburg State (4-4-1, 1-2-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Tuesday as it travels to Becker College at 4:30 p.m. Westfield State (4-7-0, 2-1-0 MASCAC) will host Trinity College on Thursday at 7 p.m.

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Westfield State 5, Fitchburg State 1

Scoring:
1st Half: FIT: Katie Hayward (Courtney Kimball), 15:06; WES: Kayley Miller (Ali Pease), 17:11; WES: Miller, 23:04; WES: Colleen Bazinet (Miller), 35:28;
2nd Half: WES: Pease (Miller), 58:40;
Goalkeeping: FIT: Melanie Berent (54:42), four saves; Jillian Kirouac (35:18), three saves; WES: Jess Habif (90:00), 11 saves
Shots: FIT: 18; WES: 17