Field Hockey Falls to Westfield State University, 5-2

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College sophomore forward Kristina Kopyscinski (Agawam, Mass.) and junior forward Kayla Narey (South Hadley, Mass.) each found the back of the net, but Westfield State University used two goals and an assist from Sarah Pliszka (Enfield, Conn.) to help lift the Owls to a 5-2 win over the Blazers in Thursday evening's non-conference field hockey game at Leary Field. 

With the loss, Elms moves to 1-8 on the season, while Westfield State improves to 4-2 overall.

Westfield State used three first half scores including a penalty corner goal off the stick of Kelsey Carpenter (Barre, Mass.) and back-to-back markers from Pliszka.

Carpenter's strike was set up by Kelly Kenney (Suffield, Conn.) started the penalty corner with a pass to Courtney Araujo (Somerset, Mass.) who stopped it and left the ball for Carpenter who delivered the ball into the back of the net.

Leading 3-0 at intermission, Holly Brouillette (Burlington, Mass.), who assisted on Pliszka's second goal, was the recipient of a pass from Pliszka and deposited the ball into the back of the cage 1:54 into the second frame.

Brouillette assisted on the Owls next goal, this one off the stick of Meg Doherty (Mansfield, Mass.) to give Westfield State a 5-0 advantage after 41:36 of play.

Elms rallied when Kopyscinski capitalized with a goal following a pass from junior forward Kelly Martin (Enfield, Conn.) in the 55^th minute of action. Narey scored 11 minutes later after junior midfielder Imogen Leonard (Sharon, Mass.) delivered her a pass to cut the Blazers' deficit to 5-2. However, Elms could get no closer as Westfield State held on for the three-goal win.

Elms' sophomore goalkeeper Samantha Alvino (Holtsville, N.Y.) made 14 saves in the contest including eight in the first stanza.

Westfield starting goalkeeper Megan Fountaine (Scituate, Mass.) made three saves, while Jess Rodier (Oxford, Mass.) made four saves in 14:37 of action.  

Elms returns to non-conference action on Sunday, September 29 at Wheaton College at 1:00 p.m.