Field Hockey Rallies Past Castleton, Grabs Share of First Place

Westfield State senior Cheryl Latona scored a pair of goals including the game winner with 1:46 left as the Owls' field hockey team rallied for a 3-2 win at Castleton State in a key Little East Field Hockey game on Saturday afternoon.

Westfield trailed 2-0 at the half before rallying for the win. The Owls improve to 9-7 overall and 8-2 in the Little East. The Owls take over a share of first place in the league standings, as both Westfield State and Keene State have an 8-2 mark in league play, with a potential showdown looming on the final day of the regular season.

Latona netted the Owls first goal six minutes into the second half, tipping home the rebound of Lily Spencer's shot.

Westfield had what looked like the game tying goal called off with about 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter, when a scramble in front of the net resulted in the ball finding the back of the cage, but after an initial goal signal, and then a long conversation between the referees, the apparent goal was waved off.

The Owls wasted no time in evening the score. Less than two minutes later, Latona fed Taylor Creech on the doorstep for the goal and a 2-2 tie.

Finally, Latona sealed the deal with 1:46 left in regulation, with a trademark tip in at the post off of an Owls' penalty corner. Latona's goal was her 12th of the season, and she moved into 10th on Westfield's career scoring list with 61 career points.

Westfield finished with a 12-9 advantage in shots, and a 10-6 edge in penalty corners.

Riley Goulet stopped seven shots in goal for Westfield.

Emily Harris netted both first half goals for Castleton (6-10, 4-6 Little East) which got nine saves from Hannah Frittenberg.