Clark Scores Twice as Owls Roll Past Vikings on Senior Day, 5-0

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State senior Abby Clark (Uxbridge, Mass.) delivered two goals in the final home game of the regular season as the Owls defeated Salem State 5-0 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game on Saturday afternoon from Alumni Field in Westfield, Mass. on Saturday afternoon.

The Owls now pull into a tie with Fitchburg State atop the MASCAC standings with just one week left in the regular season after the Falcons lost to Worcester State earlier today. Westfield now owns a 10-7 record on the season and a 6-2 MASCAC mark. The Vikings fall to 2-12 on the season and 0-8 in the conference.

Three of the five goals scored on the afternoon were from Owls' seniors as six student-athletes were recognized as part of senior day. Leah Pierce (Barnstable, Mass.) was one of those six players and got the scoring started for Westfield. Pierce took the penalty corner and passed the ball to Erin Lane (Canton, Mass.) at the top of the circle who directed a shot towards the post where Pierce was able to redirect the shot into the cage for a 1-0 lead.

Five minutes into the second quarter, Clark forced a turnover at midfield and sent a pass up field where Meredith Higgins (Enfield, Conn.) tracked down the pass and pushed a low shot that was kicked aside by Salem goalkeeper Izzy Mosley (Middleborough, Mass.) where the ball was then tipped back into the net by a Vikings defender.

Westfield put together a strong third quarter to put the game out of reach, with Clark again generating a Vikings turnover in the midfield, feeding a pass to Kaleigh Murphy (Pembroke, Mass.) at the attacking 35-yard line where she would possess the ball into the circle and flip a backhanded pass to Clark who buried her first of two goals on the afternoon for a 3-0 lead.

Another quick strike from the Owls offense ensued four minutes after the Clark goal as Sadie Stauffer (Suffield, Conn.) launched a shot towards goal that was saved by Mosley, inducing a rebound to Erin Murphy (Auburn, Mass.) who tucked in a shot from the end line to open up a 4-0 lead. Clark added a fifth goal before the end of the third period, scoring her fourth goal of the season to secure the win.

Westfield outshot Salem 17-5 on the afternoon with Owls goalie Emma Gniadek (Worcester, Mass.) picking up the win, recording one save behind a strong Westfield defense. Olivia Labrie (Southampton, Mass.) entered the contest in the fourth quarter and made three saves to preserve the Owls third conference shutout of the season. Mosley (L, 2-12) made eight saves for Salem.

Prior to the start of today's game, Westfield State honored six senior student-athletes on the team: Jordan Conrad (Worcester, Mass.), Molly Finnegan (Westport, Mass.), Abby Clark, Taylor Creech (Kennebunk, Maine), Leah Pierce, and Morgan Beirne (Watertown, Mass.)

Westfield State will close the 2024 regular season with two MASCAC opponents on the road beginning on Wednesday, October 30 as the Owls visit Bridgewater State at 7:00 P.M. Salem State will remain on the road for their next game, travelling to Fitchburg State on Tuesday at 4:00 P.M.