WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State first year midfielder Carter Hebert (Easthampton, Mass.) netted a hat trick to rally Westfield State from a 3-1 deficit to a 3-3 draw with Keene State in a non-conference men's soccer match at Alumni Field on Saturday night.
Hebert's high blast from the left side came after a Matt Allen (Southwick, Mass.) throw in deep in the corner. Hebert one touched the ball past a defender and ripped a shot over the keeper and just under the cross bar at the back post upper 90 to tie the match with just 4:21 left in regulation.
Westfield had trailed 3-1 after Keene had netted a pair of goals just 24 seconds apart with 22 minutes left in the match. Keene took a 2-1 lead when Declan Coughlin (Rome, Italy) slid the ball ahead in the penalty area to find Michael Mullen (Sunapee, N.H.) all alone for a shot to the right side netting. Then on the ensuing play a Keene attacker came in clean on Westfeld GK Drew Adams (N. Attleboro, Mass.), who charged out to challenge and upended the attacking player, resulting a penalty kick opportunity that Denis Fleming (Pearl River, N.Y.) ripped just inside the right post.
Westfield wasn't done, as some creative play in the offensive end found Allen crossing the ball from the left side, where Nick Brown (Southwick, Mass.) touched it on for Hebert, who found the back of the net to give Westfield new life with 8:20 left in the match.
Hebert's goal in the 65th minute off a cross from Ryan Denehy (Littleton, Mass.) had tied the match at 1-1.
Keene State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute when Coughlin tallied.
Westfield may well have won the game. With just under 39 minutes left in regulation, a miscommunication by the Keene defense saw an Owls back attempt to head the ball back to his keeper, who was closer than anticipated and the header went between the pins of KSU GK Anthony Pasciuto (Abington, Mass.), and appeared to cross the goal line before a Keene defender chased the ball down and slid in to clear it off the line. The officiating crew ruled the ball never crossed the goal line and play continued.
Keene finished up with a 23-16 edge in total shots, and had an 8-7 advantage in corner kicks.
Westfield's Drew Adams made 10 saves in goal, while Pasciuto finished with seven.
Westfield State is now 2-8-5 on the season. The Owls match the school record for draws in season. Keene State is 5-8-2.