Women's Soccer Falls In Championship Game, 3-2

 WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Westfield State women's soccer's season came to an end with a 3-2 loss to Bridgewater State in the 2024 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship game at Mazzaferro Field in Bridgewater.

The top-seeded Bears (12-4-3) earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, while the second-seeded Owls' season draws to a close at 11-5-4.

Westfield took a 1-0 lead 20 minutes into the match on a penalty kick goal from Kiana Muratsuka.    Westfield forced the PK after a flurry of offensive activity, as Livie Crooks blasted a high shot from the right side that was saved by Bridgewater State goalkeeper Logan Lesveque, but the rebound came down to Westfield's Delaney Parker just steps in front of the goal. Parker poked a shot that was saved by a Bears' defender, but a handball was called to set up the PK.

Bridgewater tied the match at 1-1 on looping ball into the box that was touched ahead by Emily McCormack to Olivia Robarge who quickly volleyed it past Robak.

The Bears grabbed a 2-1 lead 5:55 into the second half, on what was classified as an own goal as the Bears' Lauren Sellmeyer launched a high ball into the goalkeepers box.  Robak elevated to try to corral the descending loose ball, but it slipped through her hands and off a defender and into the goal.

Bridgewater extended their lead to 3-1 after a short goal kick, the Bears won possession and quickly countered, getting the ball ahead to Robarge, who split a pair of Westfield defenders and fired a low shot from 12 yards out on the right side.

Westfield answered with just over a minute remaining in regulation time. Morgan Berthiaume blasted a shot from 30 yards out on the left flank that hit the crossbar and deflected down and across the goal line before spinning back out of the cage.

Berthiaume's goal trimmed the lead to 3-2, but that was as close as the Owls would get, as the Bears were able to control possession in their offensive end for the final minute to secure the title.

Westfield held an 18-14 margin in total shots, but Bridgewater generated seven corner kicks to the Owls' four.    Robak finished with eight saves for Westfield, while Levesque made six for the Bears.

The loss closes out the career of seven Westfield State seniors, including forward Delaney Parker, Westfield's all-time leading scorer with 87 goals, 34 assists and 208 career points, and defender Jaida Cochran, a two-time MASCAC defensive player of the year.