WESTFIELD, Mass. – Senior Sarah Sypek (Westhampton, Mass.) recorded a goal and an assist to help pace the Westfield State University women's soccer team to a 3-0 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in a quarterfinal round game of the 2014 ECAC Division III New England Women's Soccer Tournament.
With the win the third-seeded Owls improve to 13-5-2 overall and will travel to second-seeded University of New England for one semifinal on Friday afternoon as the Nor'Easters blanked seventh-seeded Emmanuel, 5-0. The sixth-seeded Leopards see their season come to a close with a 9-9-4 record, marking the first time since 2007 the Black & Gold has finished with a .500 record or better.
Sypek assisted on the only goal Westfield State would need at the 25:12 mark when she sent a ball over the Wentworth defense that junior Ashley Bovat (Westfield, Mass.) deposited into the far corner of the net.
The Owls increased their lead to 2-0 in the 33rd minute when senior Amanda Grant (Westfield, Mass.) delivered a pass to classmate Ashley Chretien (North Attleboro, Mass.), who would beat senior Nicole Leahey (Warwick, R.I.). Westfield State held a 2-0 lead at the half and outshot Wentworth by a 14-3 margin over the first 45:00.
Early in the second half, the Leopards had a chance to cut the deficit to a goal, however senior Olivia Moore's (Salem, Conn.) bid went wide. Moore would also put a shot on goal in the 75th minute.
Sypek established a new Owl single-season record with her 21st goal, coming at the 70:19 mark, when she took a pass from Bovat and beat senior Beverly Farris (Palmer, Mass.) to the near post.
Sophomore Anne Stack (East Longmeadow, Mass.) made one save in the first half before giving way to freshman Leah Ciampa (Danvers, Mass.), who made three saves over the final 45:00. Leahey made three saves in the first half and Farris made one in the second half for the Leopards, who were outshot by a 23-8 margin. Three of Wentworth's five second-half shots were sent on net.
