WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State University got a hat trick from Kaleigh Murphy to emerge with a 4-3 non-conference win over UMass Dartmouth in the Owls home opener at Alumni Field on Saturday.
Westfield fell behind 1-0 in the 20th minute as senior captain and midfielder
Jenna Carvalho tallied an unassisted goal for the Corsairs. Murphy then netted the first of her three goals just over a minute later, as Erin Murphy carried the ball to the top of the circle on the right side, and let a shot fly that was tipped past UMD goalie
Hannah Trombly by Murphy.
Westfield added a second marker before the period was out when off a penalty corner play, Erin Lane reloaded the ball into the goal mouth from the left side, and Meredith Higgins tipped it in for a 2-1 Owls lead with 5:11 left in the first half.
UMass Dartmouth answered 4:31 into the third quarter with Carvalho feeding graduate midfielder and captain
Maggie McCafferty in the middle of the circle on a penalty corner for a 2-2 tie.
Westfield threatened to pull away with back to back goals from Murphy to build the lead to 4-2 with 10:29 left in regulation, but UMass Dartmouth pulled within a goal late, scoring on the third of three consecutive penalty corners as sophomore defender
Sophia Bouffard inserted from the left side to rookie midfielder
Kayla Crai on the wing, who spun and fired a shot for the goal to trim the lead to 4-3 with 4:50 left in regulation.
Westfield was able to hold the score in their favor over the final four minutes to preserve the win.
Erin Murphy finished with a goal and an assist for the Owls, who got eight saves from junior GK Emma Gniadek.
The Corsairs split the game in goal with
Hannah Trombly and
Shane Cueman each playing a half. Trombly made two saves in the first half, while Cueman stopped seven shots in the second half.
UMass Dartmouth is now 2-2 on the season, with Westfield improving to 2-1.
Westfield will be back in action on Thursday with a 7:00 p.m. game against Mount Holyoke on Alumni Field. The Corsairs return to the field at home on Tuesday, hosting Wheaton College at 4pm on Cressy Field.
