Murphy Notches Game-Winning Goal, Owls Slash Lancers 2-1

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State senior Kaleigh Murphy (Pembroke, Mass.) registered her third game-winning goal of the season with a late fourth quarter goal to propel the Owls to a 2-1 victory over Worcester State in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game on Saturday afternoon from Alumni Field in Westfield, Mass.

The Owls move out to a 2-0 start in conference play and improve their overall record to 4-3. The Lancers drop to 0-6 on the season and 0-1 in the MASCAC.

Tied one goal apiece late in the fourth quarter, the Owls were granted a penalty corner, their seventh of the second half. Eliana Kaplan (North Andover, Mass.) took the insert and sent a pass out to the top of the shooting circle where Murphy blasted home her sixth of the season to give the Owls a 2-1 advantage.

Murphy has been no stranger to netting game winners in her career as it was the 12^th game-winning marker in her career and her third already this season. Murphy now has 30 career goals 68 games played. 

The Owls needed to weather a strong push from Worcester in the closing minutes of regulation, leaning on senior netminder Emma Gniadek (Worcester, Mass.) who saved two point blank shots from Kae Coleman (Attleboro, Mass.) and Abby Matta (West Bridgewater, Mass.) with one minute left.

The Lancers made one final push in the finishing seconds with another strike from Matta with five seconds left which was calmly padded aside by Gniadek, securing the Owls victory.

The Owls got on the board first on a transition opportunity which resulted in an initial shot from Ashley D'Elia (Watertown, Conn.) which was saved by Lancers goalie Lizzy MacDonald (Medford, Mass.). The rebound kicked out to the left side towards Kacey Curran (Fall River, Mass.) who tucked a low shot past MacDonald to put Westfield in front 1-0 just 4:52 into play.

Worcester found the equalizer in the later stages of the first quarter, capitalizing on a penalty corner chance. Gniadek stopped two shots, a tipped shot in front from Charlotte MacGregor (Bellingham, Mass.) followed by a point blank stop off the stick of Katelynn Swistak (West Brookfield, Mass.). The ball remained loose right in front of the net where Allison Keenan (Marlborough, Mass.) ushered a backhand pass to the original corner inserter Kylie Casey (Hubbardston, Mass.) on the back post, tapping home the tying marker.

Westfield had several scoring chances to begin the third quarter, getting three consecutive penalty corners a one-minute span. Stout defense on the part of the Lancers prevented a shot on the first two attempts, and on the third opportunity, a shot from Caroline Andrade (Watertown, Mass.) was blocked down before reaching the net.

With 30 seconds remaining in the third period, Murphy jostled for and gained possession at the 30-yard line, setting up a three-on-two transition chance. Murphy drove into the middle of the scoring area then directed a pass to a crashing Curran who's shot missed just wide outside the far post.

Both goalies delivered strong performances for their respective sides. Gniadek (W, 2-3) tallied seven saves while MacDonald (L, 0-6) stopped six shots on net.

Westfield held a slim 16-15 shots advantage in what was a tightly contested game for the duration. After not attempting a penalty corner in the first half, the Owls took seven in the back half of the game, holding a 7-5 edge in corners.

The Owls and Lancers played their fifth consecutive game that was decided by one goal.

Westfield State, winners of three of their last four, will travel to Johnson & Wales for a non-conference game on Wednesday at 4:00 P.M. Worcester State will return home to host Fitchburg State in a MASCAC battle on Tuesday at 7:00 P.M.