Owls Prevail in Shootout at JWU, 3-2

WESTFIELD, Mass.  --     Westfield State's Kaleigh Murphy (Pembroke, Mass.) netted the game-winner with a spinning goal in the shootout that gave the Owls an insurmountable 3-1 advantage in the shootout and a 3-2 win at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI on Wednesday afternoon.

Westfield State goalkeeper Emma Gniadek (Worcester, Mass./Doherty) was credited with 24 saves in the game to preserve the win, including coming out to smother the ball on the Wildcats final attempt in the shootout, setting up Murphy's game winner.

Regulation time featured back and forth action, with JWU getting on the scoreboard first in the ninth minute, but that lead was short lived as the Owls attacked with a series of penalty corners, which was capped by a dramatic goal from Lillianna Atkins (Agawam, Mass.), as she bbatted home a high shot after Shannon Gover (Norwood, Mass.) flipped the ball up across the goal mouth.  That goal tied the game 1-1 in the 14^th minute of play.

JWU's Ava Gaudette gave the Wildcats a 2-1 lead with a goal just before halftime.

Westfield tied the game at 2-2 just over four minutes into the second half, with Kacey Curran (Fall River, Mass./Durfee) slotting a long pass into the circle on the right side, where Murphy ran on to the ball and snuck it past the goalkeeper on the short side.

Neither team could muster a goal in the two overtimes, with JWU outshooting the Owls 6-1 in the first session.

In the shootout 1 v 1's, Caroline Andrade (Watertown, Mass.) and Curran both tallied for the Owls, setting up Murphy's game winner.

Westfield improves to 5-3 on the season, while JWU is now 5-2.

The Wildcats held a 38-19 advantage in total shots, and a 26-8 mark in shots on goal.  JWU led 11-6 in penalty corners.

Westfield State comes back on short rest to face new conference member Anna Maria on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. at Alumni Field to kick off a busy Family and Champions Weekend on campus.