Second Half Goals Propel Westfield State Over Men's Soccer

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

CHICOPEE, Mass. - A pair of goals from Westfield State freshman Brodie Keene (Feeding Hills, Mass.) in just over a minute span helped the visiting Owls capture a 3-1 victory over Men's Soccer Wednesday night at Leary Field.

After more than 40 minutes of scoreless play, Westfield State cracked the scoreboard in the 43^rd minute as Owls junior Joe Pantuosco (Somers, Conn.) chased a ball down the sideline, dribbled into the box and fired a shot on goal, which Elms senior goalkeeper Nicholson Pennant (St. Andrew, Jamaica) stopped, but the loose ball bounded to the foot of Westfield State junior Connor Glynn (Newburyport, Mass.), who placed a shot into the open net, staking the Owls to a 1-0 lead. Westfield State maintained the 1-0 advantage into the intermission.

With 7:54 remaining, the ball was headed through the midfield and up to Keene, who fired a shot into the upper corner of the net from 20 yards out, extending the Owls advantage to 2-0. Just over a minute later, Keene gathered a loose ball and ripped a shot through the hands of Pennant, and it's momentum carried the shot into the side of the goal, giving Westfield State a 3-0 lead.

The Blazers broke the shutout bid for Owls sophomore Marc Patnaude (North Andover, Mass.) in the 87^th minute as Elms senior Patrick Goonan (Chicopee, Mass.) chased a ball into the corner and played a cross to the front of the net, where freshman Shaquille Robinson (New York, N.Y.) fired home the cross, resulting in the 3-1 final.

Elms and Westfield State finished even in the shot column with ten shots apiece. Pennant made a match-high five saves, while Patnaude stopped three shots for the Owls.

The Blazers will look to return to the win column with a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) tilt against Newbury College at Leary Field Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. Westfield State travels to Framingham State Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

ELMS SOCCER