WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State University captured the 2024 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Field Hockey Tournament title as the second-seeded Owls posted a 2-1 win over fifth-seeded Bridgewater State University in the tournament championship game on Saturday evening at Alumni Field.

The MASCAC championship marks the first for the Owls (13-8) who advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament for just the second time in program history and first since 1981. The 26-team national tournament gets underway late next week. The selection show announcing the pairings will air Sunday at 9:30 p.m. on ncaa.com.

The Bears end the season with an overall record of 10-11 after an impressive tournament run. Bridgewater knocked off fourth-seeded Framingham State University in the opening round and top-seeded Fitchburg State University in the semifinals.

Junior Kaleigh Murphy (Pembroke, Mass.) potted the game-winning goal with 4:36 left to play in the game to lift the Owls to the conference tournament crown. Junior Sadie Stauffer (Suffield, Conn.) sent a shot towards the net that was blocked by a BSU defender. Murphy corralled the rebound and slipped a shot into the right side of the net.

The Bears pressed to tie the game and had three penalty corner attempts over the final four minutes but were unable to convert.

The Owls converted off a penalty corner to open the scoring less than three minutes into the game.

Junior Erin Lane (Canton, Mass.) sent a shot from just inside the circle that bounced past the BSU keeper and inside the right post. Murphy assisted on the goal.

The Bears also scored off a penalty corner to knot the game at 1-1 with 2:58 remaining in the second quarter. Sophomore Abbie Zuber (Westport, Mass.) sent a shot towards the far post that was tipped home by junior Lexi James (Ipswich, Mass.).

Zuber recorded her team-leading 11th assist and 29th point of the season. James tallied her ninth goal of the year. Zuber's 11 assists mark the fourth highest single-season total in program history.

Westfield finished with a 25-7 shot advantage for the game while penalty corner attempts were even at eight apiece.

Junior Brianna Gagnon (Tewksbury, Mass.) made 11 saves in the setback for the Bears. The 11 saves equaled a season-high for Gagnon who finished with 133 saves and a .751 save percentage in her first season between the pipes.

Junior Emma Gniadek (Worcester, Mass.) turned aside two shots for the Owls.