WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Connecticut College women's lacrosse team closed out non-conference action in dominant fashion, defeating host Westfield State 18-7 from Alumni Field on Wednesday night. With the win, Conn improves to 6-3 on the year, while Westfield falls to 2-7.
Conn came out of the gates flying, opening up a 3-0 just over three minutes in. Kate Coughlin (Reading, Mass.) got the scoring started as she received a pass in front of the cage from Aine Downey (Brookline, Mass.) before firing a behind-the-back shot to make it 1-0. Just 40 seconds later, Downey did the work herself firing home, before Campbell Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) made it 3-0.
Midway through the quarter, Downey forced a turnover along the sideline, sending the Camels on a quick counter attack. Greta Panke (Milldale, Conn.) laid a pass off to Coughlin who found Emma Ognibene (New Canaan, Conn.) in front, firing hom to make it 4-0. With just under four minutes left, Panke worked at the top of the key, dropping a pass in front to Caroline Bruce (Acton, Mass.) who shoveled home to make it 5-0. Downey pushed a shot past Sydney Smith with 2:29 to play, but Westfield got on the board in the final 10 seconds on a goal from Kylie Buchanan as the Camels led 6-1 after one.
The Owls opened the second quarter with an early goal, cutting the deficit to 6-2. However, Conn answered with three goals in just over two minutes to push the lead to 9-2. During the run, Couglin, Downey, and Elizabeth Gill (Hingham, Mass.) each tallied one goal. Westfield responded with back-to-back tallies, but in the dying seconds, Coughlin found Gill on the side of the crease, who fired home to put the Camels in front 10-4 at the break.
Conn opened the second half on the front foot, pushing the advantage to double figures just five minutes in. Gill got the scoring started at 13:30, before Coughlin and Bruce scored 31 seconds apart. Ognibene was then left alone in front of goal, firing home to make it 14-4 at 10:08. The Camels ended the quarter with a fourth goal from Coughlin and Gill setting up Johnston, as Conn took a 16-4 lead into the fourth.
The Owls opened the final frame, with a goal just 19 seconds in, cutting the deficit to 16-5. However, Conn answered right back as once again Gill found Johnston on the back post to make it 17-5. Westfield answered two minutes later, after the Owls forced a turnover and were able to capitalize on a fast break. Each team added one more goal down the stretch, with the final Camels goal coming from Ognibene as Conn earned the 18-7 win.
Conn outshot Westfield 33-14, while holding a 16-13 edge on draw controls.
Ava Virga (Watertown, N.Y.) picked up the win in the cage, finishing with four saves. Coughlin and Gill paced the Camels with six points, on four goals and two assists and three goals and three assists respectively. Downey added three goals and two assists, while both Johnston and Ognibene each tallied three goals and one assist. Bruce chipped in two goals, with Panke notching one assist.
Defensively, Conn forced seven turnovers, with Eliza Shamah (Acton, Mass.) forcing team-best two. Sydney Weber (Hanover, Mass.) led the way with four ground balls, while Panke, Shamah, Virga, and Emma McDonnell (Stevenson, Md.) each scooping up two. Weber also controlled a team-high eight draws, while Downey added five controls.
Smith got the start in goal, finishing with six saves in the first half, before being replaced by Kara Banagan who made three saves in the second half. Five Owls recorded at least two points, led by Emma Prattson who tallied one goal and three assists.
Conn returns to action on Saturday as the Camels wrap up their road trip, taking on Williams at 1:00 p.m. in Williamstown, Mass.
