Hafensteiner Scores OT Game-Winner As Owls Wow Wooster, 17-16

WESTFIELD, Mass.  – Westfield State's Kiely Hafensteiner (Niskayuna, N.Y.) scooped up a rebound in overtime and scored the game-winning goal, as the Owls registered a dramatic 17-16 overtime win over the College of Wooster (Ohio) in the Spring Fling women's lacrosse tournament at Panama City Beach, Fla. on Monday.

Westfield's Natalie DeMaio (Westwood, Mass.) fired the first shot of the overtime period that demanded a sprawling save from Wooster goalkeeper Ashley Reynolds, creating the rebound that bounced to Hafensteiner and gave her an open net for the game winner with Reynolds on the ground.

Hafensteiner's clutch goal sealed a late comeback for the Owls, which trailed 16-14 with a minute to go in regulation, but Westfield's Emma Cretella (Cheshire, Conn./St. Paul's Catholic) scored twice in a 26-second span in the final minute to force the extra session.

Offense was easy to come by for both teams in the high-scoring contest.  Cretella finished with six goals and an assist, Kylie Buchanan (Westfield, Mass.) added three goals, and Mercedes Rozzi (S. Burlington, Vt.) two goals and an assist for Westfield.

Kenzie Smith and Ciara O'Connor each netted four goals for the Fighting Scots. Kaityn McBride, Brynne Snaguski, and Kenzie Morris each scored a pair of goals for Wooster.

Westfield got 10 saves from goalie Sydney Smith (Dalton, Mass./Wahconah) while Reynolds stopped nine shots for Wooster.

Wooster led in total shots, 33-31, and held a 22-14 advantage in draw controls.

The Owls are now 3-0 on the season, and have won 12 straight regular-season games dating back to last year.  Wooster is 4-1.

Westfield will play two more goals at the Spring Fling event, squaring off with Bowdoin (Me.) College on Wednesday, then facing Kenyon (Ohio) College on Friday.  Kenyon was listed as receiving votes in this week's IWLCA Division III national poll.