WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Sophomore Meg Gearin (Groton, Mass.) had a goal and an assist to lead Westfield State to a 3-0 victory over Bridgewater State in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women's soccer tournament championship game.
With the victory, Westfield State earns a berth into the NCAA Division III national tournament for the first time in school history. The streaking Owls improved to 15-4 with their 13th victory in the past 14 games.
Bridgewater State wraps up the 2008 campaign with a record of 11-4-3. The teams shared the MASCAC regular season crown with 6-1 records, but Westfield earned the No. 1 seed with a 3-2 double overtime victory at Bridgewater State on Oct. 13.
Gearin assisted on the game-winning goal by sophomore Jill Ranney (Southwick) in the 16th minute.
In the 66th minute, Westfield took a 2-0 lead when sophomore Kate MacLellan (Wilbraham) hooked a direct kick from 20 yards into the upper right corner.
Gearin scored an unassisted goal in the 86th minute when her cross pass deflected off a Bridgewater defender into the net.
Freshman goalie Jess Pieciak (Three Rivers/Palmer) was outstanding for the Owls. Bridgewater out-shot Westfield, 16-13, and Pieciak made 13 saves. Senior Ashley Spingler (West Springfield, MA) suffered just her second loss of the season in goal for the Bears as she made four saves