WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State's Jesse Njamnshi (Fitchburg, Mass.) scored in the 71st minute as the Owls forged a 1-1 tie in a non-conference match at Emerson College on Tuesday evening.
The draw was the fourth of the season for Westfield (1-7-4), just one short of the school record set in 2018. Emerson is now 5-1-5 on the season.
Westfield State caught the Emerson defense off guard when Njamnshi was able to fend off two defenders racing towards the box. Emerson GK Ethan Fitzsimmons came out of the goal, which allowed Njamnshi to send the game-tying marker over his head and into the net. It was Njamnshi's first collegiate goal.
Westfield got three key saves late from Collin O'Brien to preserve the tie. He made eight saves on the evening.
In the 88th minute, Westfield nearly tallied the go-ahead marker, but the Owls were called offsides as the score held for the 1-1 tie.
The Lions struck for the game's first goal in the 11th minute, as Theodore Bushara's initial shot was saved by O'Brien, but forced him out of the net. The ball bounced back to Bushara, who sent it over to Aidan Ferguson, who booted the ball into a wide open net.
Emerson out-shot the Owls 15-5 on the evening and held a 9-1 edge in corner kicks.
Westfield will be back in conference play on Saturday, hosting Mass Maritime at 3:00 p.m.