Pride Pull Away from Owls, 13-8

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Springfield College midfielder Samantha Andresen (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) scored five goals as the Springfield College Pride took down the Westfield State Owls 13-8 in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday evening at Alumni Field in Westfield, Mass.

For the Owls, Megan Bailey (Quincy, MA) and Kiely Hafensteiner (Niskayuna, NY) recorded four points each in the loss. Bailey had four goals and was assisted on three of them by Hafensteiner, who recorded her own goal. Owls' goalkeeper Kara Banagan (Niskayuna, NY) made 14 saves.

For the Pride, goalkeeper Haley Moody (Wells, Maine) made 13 saves in the win.

The Owls fall to 7-5 overall (2-0 in MASCAC conference). The Pride improve to 11-2 overall (6-0 in NEWMAC conference). 

Springfield College scored four straight goals in the first quarter and jumped out to a quick, 4-0 lead over the Owls with a pair of goals from Andresen.

The Owls first found themselves on the board with 3:19 minutes to go in the first quarter with a goal from Bailey assisted by Hafensteiner as the Owls trailed 4-1.

With under a minute to play in the first quarter, Springfield quickly built the lead to 5-1 as Sarah Newton (Colchester, Conn.) scored after a pass from Maddie Roy (Wilbraham, Mass.) found her stick.

The Owls started the second quarter strong, scoring three quick goals in the first three minutes of the quarter. Bailey scored two of the three as Hafensteiner assisted on one and recorded her own to make the score 5-4 with 12:13 to go in the half.

After the Owls cut the lead to one, Springfield responded with four straight goals, three of them coming in the last five minutes of the second quarter. The run was capped by a hat-trick-completing-goal from S. Andresen with 8:48 to play in the third quarter making the score 9-4.

The Owls responded with two of their own goals to close out the quarter. A goal from Arianna Andresen (Port Jefferson Station, NY) assisted by Natalie DeMaio (Westwood, MA) and one from Emma Prattson (Tolland, CT), cut the deficit to three, 9-6 as they entered the fourth quarter.

A comeback attempt was quickly cut short as four straight goals from the Pride opened up the fourth quarter. S. Andresen had two straight as Arielle Johnson (Pomfret, CT) and Abby Taylor (Cumberland Foreside, Maine) scored the other two. At 13-6 with 5:18 to go in the fourth, the Pride gained their biggest lead of the game.

The Owls were able to cut down their deficit with under a minute to go. Hafensteiner found the stick of Bailey for their third goal with fifteen seconds to go in the fourth. Kylie Buchanan (Westfield, MA) had the last goal of the game assisted by Mercedes Rozzi (South, Burlington, VT).

For the Pride, S. Andresen led with five goals and Roy had a team high two assists as well as one goal.

For the Owls, Bailey led with four goals and Hafensteiner with three assists.

The next game for the Pride is Saturday April 13 at 1:00pm home versus NEWMAC opponent Wellesley College. The next game for the Owls is on Friday April 12 at 7:30pm away at MASCAC opponent Salem State University. 

Written by Jordan Aguiar – Westfield State Sports Information Intern