Box Score WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State University broke open a close game, outscoring Smith College 13-4 in the second half, for a 17-7 women's lacrosse victory Tuesday evening, March 29.  The Owls upped their record to 3-1 while Smith dropped to 2-5.

Westfield led the entire game, including a 3-0 advantage with 14:37 remaining in the slow-paced first half, but Smith scored three of the half's final four goals to cut the Westfield State lead to 4-3 at halftime.  Meaghan Fileti (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./Palos Verdes) got Smith on the board with a goal at the 13:31 mark, and after Laura Chiricosta answered for the Owls, markers from Mary McGrath (Newton, Mass./Newton North) with 5:54 to go and MK Pasini (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) with 49 seconds left pulled Smith within one.
 
Westfield then kicked its offense into high gear in the second half, reeling off seven straight goals for a 12-4 lead with 11:37 remaining. Smith pulled within 12-5 on Fileti's free position tally with 11:14 left in the half, but the Owls ended the game scoring five of the final seven goals in the contest.
 
Leading the Owls offensively was junior attack/midfielder Carly Keeley, who had game highs in five statistical categories: six points, five goals, seven draw controls, seven groundballs and two caused turnovers.

Scoring three goals apiece were: Ari Colella, Laura Chiricosta and Maura Stack, who converted several outstanding scores in heavy traffic. Rachel Dionne tallied two goals and one assist.

Becky Bracken (Barrington, R.I./Barrington) led Smith with three goals and Meaghan Fileti (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./Palos Verdes) had two scores.   Meredith Kallfelz made 10 saves for the Pioneers, who will take on Western New England College on Thursday, March 31 at 4:30 pm.

(Parts of this story courtesy Westfield State Sports Information)