BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The visiting Westfield State University women's soccer team  blanked Bridgewater State University, 3-0, in a key Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contest on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.

The Owls improve to 7-4-2 on the season and 4-1 in the MASCAC, while the host Bears fall to 8-5 overall and 4-1 in conference play. Westfield State, Bridgewater State and Worcester State are all tied for first place in the MASCAC standings with two conference games remaining.

Junior defender Casey Rotti (Rutland, Mass.) paced the visitors with a goal and an assist, while senior midfielder Rene Hamel (Monson, Mass.) notched a pair of assists, both off corner kicks. Senior midfielder Kenzie Saltmarsh (Westfield, Mass.) and junior forward Nicole Chretien (North Attleboro, Mass.) also scored for Westfield.

Saltmarsh got the Owls on the board in the 42nd minute with her second goal of the season. Off a restart, sophomore midfielder Bella Eduardo (Springfield, Mass.) sent a cross into the box that was directed inside the left post by right foot of Saltmarsh from just outside the six.

Chretien extended the Westfield lead to 2-0 in the 70th minute with her third goal of the 2017 campaign. Hamel sent a corner kick into the box that was headed towards the near post by Rotti. Chretien, stationed near the post, tapped the ball over the goal line.

Rotti capped off the scoring in the 80th minute as she sent a header inside the far post off a corner kick from Hamel. The goal marked Rotti's first of the season.

Westfield held a 19-10 shot advantage, while corner kick attempts were even at four apiece.

Junior goalkeeper Natalia Falcone (Sutton, Mass.) turned aside seven shots to record her seventh win of the season and first solo shutout. BSU senior netminder Lauren DeSousa (Taunton, Mass.) made five saves in the setback.

Both teams are back in action on Wednesday night at seven. The Bears entertain Keene State College, while the Owls travel to Brandeis University.