WESTFIELD, Mass. - Westfield State College jumped out to a 3-0 halftime lead Saturday afternoon and held on for a big 3-2 over Plymouth State University in Little East Conference field hockey action.
            Westfield improved to 6-5 overall and 2-4 in the Little East, while Plymouth State dropped its second straight and fell to 5-5 and 4-3.

            Freshman standout Jessi Gould (Canton, Mass.) scored two of Westfield's three goals.  She tallied an unassisted goal 1:28 into the game, then added a key goal with six seconds left in the first half. Sophomore Alicia Gardner (Athol, Mass.) scored the Owls' other goal with 3:30 remaining in the first half, and senior Vicky Winson (Upton, Mass.) had two assists.

            Plymouth State totally dominated the second half, outshooting Westfield, 9-0. Plymouth also had 10 penalty corners in the second half while Westfield had none.

            The Panthers finally lit up the scoreboard with 6:01 remaining on an unassisted goal by freshman Lauren Bergeron (New Hampton, N.H.) PSU pulled to within a goal with 24 seconds left in the game on a goal by Kristina Conroy (Wakefield, Mass.) following a penalty corner.

            Plymouth had the advantage in shots (18-8) and penalty corners (13-1).  Owl goalie Amanda McCarthy made seven saves.

            PSU will look to get back on the winning track Wednesday with a non-conference game at New England College (3:30 p.m.)

(Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information) 

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