BRISTOL, R.I. - The Roger Williams University Women's Lacrosse team is getting set to play in the 2021 NCAA Tournament this weekend. The Hawks will take on Westfield State University in the Second Round game of the tournament this Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on the campus of Colby College.
 
Roger Williams is making its second appearance in the NCAA Tournament in program history after winning the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship 14-8 over Endicott College this past Saturday. It marks the second CCC title in program history, with the first coming back in 2016 when RWU captured its first championship also against Endicott College in a 16-7 win.
 
Two-time CCC Coach of the Year Jen Fox Stanley has reached the CCC Championship Game in three of her four seasons at Roger Williams. She completed a perfect regular and postseason with the team going 5-0 in the regular season along with the championship win after the win received a de-facto bye to the title game.
 
The Hawks currently boast a well-rounded team on both sides of the field, as RWU has the second-best scoring offensive and defense in the nation. Offensively RWU scored 21.20 goals per game while conversely only allowing only 3.80 goals per game.
 
RWU spreads the wealth offensively as the team has eight players with double-digit points, highlighted by senior Lauren Flahive (Foxborough, Mass.) who leads the team with 27 points on 20 goals and seven assists. Defensively, Hannah Goodwin (Bradford, Mass.) leads the way for RWU in the cage, putting together a season with a .531 save percentage and a 6.15 goals-against average.
 
Westfield State enters the tournament with an 8-1 overall record after winning the MASCAC Championship Saturday by defeating top-seeded Framingham State 14-13 in the tournament championship.
 
This marks the fourth consecutive season that the Owls are in the NCAA Tournament. They come in as the second-ranked team in the Northeast Region, the highest-ever ranking for the Owls. Westfield State is led offensively by senior midfielder Sam Donohoe (Pepperell, Mass.), who leads the team with 33 points on 25 goals and eight assists. Their top netminder is freshman Kara Banigan (Niskayuna, N.Y.), who sports a 5-1 record and an 8.57 goals-against average.