Maritime Drops Conference Game at Home to Owls

Maritime Drops Conference Game at Home to Owls

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass – Saturday evening, the Buccaneers women's soccer team began a three game home stand with a MASCAC match-up with the Westfield State Owls at Clean Harbors Stadium. Solid defense, and a fast attack by Westfield was the difference in the match as the visitors took the conference win, 9-1, over the Bucs.

The Buccaneers had seven shots in the game, four of which were on target. The lone goal of the game came off the foot of senior Madison Taylor (Longmeadow, Mass), assisted by defender Rachel Gardner (Bourne, Mass). The goal was Taylors sixth of the season. Goalie, Mikayla Houlihan (Middleboro, Mass) faced 20 shots in the game, and though she allowed nine goals, she made 11 saves in the game.

Westfield kept up a constant attack throughout the 90 minutes, getting of 24 shots, only three of which were off target. Of the nine goals scored, there were seven different Owl goal scorers. Jenn Rennich and Madison Dufries each had multi-goal games for the visitors. Westfield forward, Nicole Chretien added a two assist game in the victory. Goalie, Brianna Hawley saved three of the four shots on target and added an assist offensively.

The Owls opened the scoring in the eighth minute on Rennich's first goal. The following goals were spaced out rather consistently as they found the back of the net in the 11th minutes, 19th minute, 23rd and 24th minutes, and finally the 36th minute to round out the first half scoring. The Owls took a 6-0 lead in to the half time break.

In the second half, the scoring slowed as the Maritime defense settled in and Westfield brought in the bench. They would score three more goals in the 57th, 63rd and 70th minutes to take a 9-0 lead. Later in the second half, Maritime was able to break through on a through ball from the back off the foot of Gardner that found its way past three Owl defenders, on to the foot of Taylor. Taylor had to make a move on the keeper to the right and then corral the ball and make a tight angle shot to complete the play and ruin the clean sheet for Westfield.

With the loss, the Bucs fall to 1-8 on the season, 0-4 in conference. With the win, the Owls improve to 6-3-1 overall, 3-1 in the MASCAC.

Next up for the Academy is a Columbus Day, Monday, October 8th home game against Becker College at 12pm at Clean Harbors Stadium.