NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The visiting Westfield State University women's soccer team got a first half goal from Casey Rotti and then the Owls controlled possession the rest of the way as they defeated the MCLA Trailblazers 2-0 Saturday afternoon at Shewcraft Field in MASCAC action.

 

Westfield (4-2-1, 2-0) controlled play throughout as MCLA (1-6, 0-2) employed a defensive minded approach all game long to slow down the Owls.  The visitors would outshoot MCLA 30-0 in the contest, but couldn't get many past MCLA keeper Megan Richardson. 

 

Rotti's goal came off a corner kick in the 28th minute of play. The assist went to Jenn Rennich for a 1-0 advantage. The score remained that way until the 88th minute of play when the Owls converted another corner kick.

 

This time, Caitlin MacGregor converted another Rennich corner to put the game completely out of reach.

 

Natalia Falcone earned the win even though she was never tested.

 

Richardson, a Hoosac Valley graduate, was outstanding for MCLA collecting 18 saves in the loss.

 

The Trailblazers will host Southern Vermont on Tuesday night in a non league matchup.

 

Men's Soccer

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Westfield State's Sinha Kunphel scored a pair of goals including the game winner as the Owls held off MCLA 3-2 this morning at Alumni Field in MASCAC Men's Soccer action.

 

The Owls (2-4-1, 1-0-1) jumped ahead early in this one as Kunphel scored at the ten minute mark off a Brodie Keane assist for a 1-0 lead.  In the 21st minute, the Owls increased the lead to 2-0 when Paul Soucy converted.  The assist was credited to Ryan Morais and Dave Serafino and Westfield was seemingly on their way until Garrett Derosia sparked MCLA (0-6-1, 0-2).

 

He connected for his third goal of the season in the 31st minute to cut the deficit in half at 2-1. The score stayed that way until halftime.

 

Kunphel gave the Owls some breathing room out of halftime as he tallied an unassisted goal to increase the lead to 3-1 in the 46th minute of play. Derosia answered just three minutes later to once again pull MCLA within a goal at 3-2, still with forty minutes left to play.

 

MCLA couldn't get the equalizer however as the Owls held on for the win.  

 

Westfield owned a 25-12 shot edge for the game and Tyler Diotalevi stopped three shots to earn the save for the Owls.

 

MCLA's Sean Bradshaw earned the start in goal and absorbed the loss collected two saves.   Aaron Smith saw his first action of his Trailblazer career in the second half and notched four saves.

 

The Trailblazers are back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Sage for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

 

Volleyball

SALEM, Mass. --  Salem State received eight kills and 12 digs from Emily Hennessy en route to a 3-0 victory over the MCLA Trailblazers in MASCAC action this afternoon.

 

The Vikings (7-4, 2-0) cruised in this one, winning the first set 25-18. They closed out MCLA (6-7, 0-2) 25-10 and 25-19 to secure the win.

 

For MCLA, Laiken Cornwell-L'Hote and Sara LaFreniere each ended with four kills.  Beatrice Lechler had nine assists and 11 digs in the loss.

 

In the nightcap, the Trailblazers fell to St. Joseph (CT) 3-1.

 

The Blue Jays (3-5) took the opening two sets 25-20 and 25-23 to take a 2-0 advantage. MCLA stayed alive by earning a 25-19 third set victory. USJ would close out the match in the fourth set winning 25-15.

 

Sara LaFreniere (Wahconah) led the team with 10 kills while Alyssa Keegan added seven.  Reagan Scattergood ended with five kills as did Ahna Schlaefer.

 

MCLA is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts Worcester State in MASCAC action.