Top Seeded Westfield State Captures 2012 MASCAC Women's Soccer Championship With 2-0 Victory Over Third Seeded Bridgewater State In Title Match
Top-seeded Westfield State captured its second straight Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women's Soccer championship on Sunday afternoon, as the unbeaten Owls notched a 2-0 triumph over third-seeded Bridgewater State in the title match played at Alumni Field in Westfield, Mass.
Click here for Westfield State-Bridgewater State box score
Courtesy Westfield State Sports Information
WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State University women’s soccer team scored two first-half goals and received a stellar effort from goalie and tournament MVP Jess Habif to defeat Bridgewater State University, 2-0, in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) championship game on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 4.
The undefeated Owls (18-0-1) earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III national tournament for the second straight year and for the fourth time in five years by capturing the MASCAC tournament title. Bridgewater, the No. 3 seed, finishes 9-9-3.
“We did what we had to do today, especially defensively,” said Westfield State head coach Todd Ditmar. “And Jess Habif came up with some huge saves.”
Habif, a junior from Natick (Holliston High School) finished with four saves but three of stops snuffed out major Bridgewater scoring threats. She stopped a point-blank shot just outside the post with seven minutes remaining in the first half and gathered in a loose ball off a free kick scramble early in the second half.
Habif biggest save came with six minutes remaining in the game when she dove to snag a blind shot on a free kick by Bridgewater’s Mackenzie Hatfield (Whitman, MA) just outside the box, with a wall of players directly in front of Owl keeper.
Habif and the Owl defense, which includes two freshmen and four sophomore starters, have allowed only seven goals in 19 games this season.
Unlike many of its games this season, the Owls scored early in the championship match. Sophomore forward Colie Sambrook (Naugatuck, CT) scored the game-winning goal on a scramble near the post in the fourth minute. Sophomores Ashleigh Chretien (North Attleboro, MA) and Sarah Sypek (Westhampton, MA) were credited with assists.
Westfield scored its second goal in the 35th minute on a well-executed play. Sophomore Ali Blanchette (Palmer, MA) had a free kick near the 40 and she slipped a pass down the right sideline past the wall of players. Freshman Marisa Sprague (Dalton, MA) took the perfect lead pass hammered it into the net.
Westfield outshot Bridgewater, 20-7, including a 14-3 edge in the first half. Westfield also dominated the corner kicks, 9-1. Bridgewater keepers Kerry Condon (Whitman, MA) and Kristen Rowe (Burlington, MA) each had three saves.
MASCAC MOMENTS: Westfield also captured MASCAC tournament titles in 2008, 2009, and 2011…The Owls have set a school record for victories in a season and have tied a school record for goals scored in a season (64)…Westfield has a school record 12 shutouts this season and enters the NCAA Tournament with a school record 13 straight victories…Senior Brittanie McGregor has tied a school record with 15 assists this season…Westfield head coach Todd Ditmar notched his 200thcareer victory…He now owns a 200-137-17 in 20 seasons as a women’s soccer head coach, including 12 seasons at Bay Path College…Bridgewater made its eight appearance in the MASCAC Tournament championship game since the tournament began in 2000…The Bears have won two tournament titles (2002, 2003).