Mazza, Theroux Carry Owls to 1-0 Win at Bridgewater

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Sonny Mazza (East Longmeadow, Mass.) broke a scoreless tie with 50 seconds remaining in the game and Luke Theroux (Chicopee, Mass.) posted a season-high 11 saves to lead Westfield State to a 1-0 victory over Bridgewater State in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game from Bridgewater, Mass. on Saturday afternoon.

The Owls hand the Bears their first loss in the MASCAC as Westfield improves to 3-1-2 in the conference and 6-6-5 on the year. Bridgewater is now 5-1 in the MASCAC and 8-5-2 overall. The Owls maintain their second-place positioning in the MASCAC standings with one week remaining in the season. Today's match was the first time these two teams have met since the 2023 MASCAC Championship game.

With both teams scoreless entering the final minute of play, the Owls generated their best scoring chance of the match. First-year midfielder Ryan Viana (Framingham, Mass.) possessed the ball from just inside the Owls attacking end of the field where he would weave his way through several Bears defenders before crossing a pass to Mazza.

Mazza received the pass just inside the penalty area and quickly changed directions before launching a perfectly placed shot to the lower righthand corner of the net to break the scoreless tie and send the Owls to a 1-0 victory.

The Owls were in position for the win thanks to the spectacular goalkeeping from Theroux who was consistent throughout the match, saving five shots in the first half, then followed with six stops in the second half, including three saves in a span of ten minutes to open the second period.

Westfield was outshot 23-9 in the match but had a scoring burst late in the game which eventually led to the Mazza winner. Three of the Owls nine shots came with under six minutes left in regulation. Tim Tkacz (Suffield, Conn.) missed a shot high of the net off a corner kick from Miguel Fortich (Springfield, Mass.) then Dominic Cirelli (Springfield, Mass.) sent one wide of the goal 30 seconds after.

Theroux (W, 5-4-4) notched his fourth shutout of the campaign and has allowed one of fewer goals in eight of his last nine matches.

Westfield State will play one final regular season game before entering the MASCAC Tournament as the Owls host Salem State on Saturday, November 2 as part of Senior Day from Alumni Field in Westfield, Mass.