Women's Soccer Falls to Westfield in MASCAC Semifinals, 3-0

WESTFIELD  Mass. – Junior forwards Kayley Miller (2 goals) and Brittanie McGregor (1 goal, 2 assists) powered Westfield State University to a 3-0 victory over Bridgewater State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women's soccer tournament semifinal game on Thursday evening, Nov. 3.

Westfield, the No. 2 seed, boosted its record to 14-3-1 and will play at No. 1 seed Worcester State University in the MASCAC championship game on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 4:30 p.m.  The winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III national tournament.

Worcester State advanced to the championship game with a 2-1 victory over No. 4 seed Fitchburg State on Thursday evening.

Bridgewater State, the No. 3 seed, slips to 11-7-1 on the season and will await word on a potential ECAC Tournament bid.  Worcester, Westfield, and Bridgewater tied for the MASCAC regular season crown with 5-2 records.

The Owls, who defeated the Bears, 4-1, during the regular season, led 2-0 at halftime as the Ludlow Connection teamed up for a pair of goals.

In the fifth minute McGregor delivered a thru ball to the left side to Miller, who blasted a shot from 10 yards inside the far post after splitting two defenders. In the 24th minute, McGregor crossed a pass from the left side to Miller, who fired a low shot into the back of the net inside the left post.

It was Miller's 14th goal of season; she also has 37 points, the third best in school history.

Westfield capped the scoring in the 49th minute when McGregor tallied her 12th goal this season (29 points) after assists from freshman Ashleigh Chretien (North Attleboro, Mass.) and junior Leann Rivard (Chicopee, Mass.).

It was Rivard's 15th assist this season, which ties the single-season record set in 2009 by Kate MacLellan.

Westfield outshot Bridgewater, 16-7, and also led in corners, 10-1.  Sophomore Jessica Habif (Holliston, Mass.) and freshman Nicky Stasz (Easthampton, Mass.) turned aside six shots in the win, while the BSU goaltending tandem of junior Kristen Rowe (Burlington, Mass.) and sophomore Kerry Condon (Whitman, Mass.) combined to make seven saves.