It’s always the goal of a team to be playing their best when it matters the most and that’s what the Westfield State Owls (BR-302) are currently doing. The Owls clinched the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) regular-season championship with a 2-0 win over Mass Maritime Friday.
Westfield State (6-9-1 overall, 5-2-0 MASCAC) will now be the top seed into the MASCAC Tournament and will host a semifinal-round contest Friday evening at Alumni Field in Westfield, Mass. The winner of the MASCAC Tournament gets an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Tournament.
Against Mass Maritime, senior Kevin Bengle finished with a goal and an assist. The other goal came from sophomore Connor Gilbert. Sophomore Alex Draver finished with five saves to earn his second shutout of the season in goal.
The Owls won the MASCAC regular-season title despite finishing just 1-7-1 in non-conference games. Westfield State started the season 0-4-0.