NORTHAMPTON, Mass.  – Westfield State University field hockey got the 2023 season off to a fast start, rolling to a 7-1 win over Nichols College in the season opener at the Caryl Newhof Classic tournament at Smith College on Friday afternoon.

Westfield improves to 1-0 on the season and will play in the championship game on Saturday at 1:00 at host smith.  The Pioneers were a 10-0 winner over UMaine-Farmington in the second game today.

Corryn Moroney (Granby, Mass./S. Hadley HS) staked the Owls to a 1-0 lead with 4:46 left in the first quarter, as she slammed home the rebound of her own shot.  Westfield led 2-1 at the half after Skyla Harthcock (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.) tallied midway through the second quarter.

The Owls took the lid off the goal in the second half, tallying five times as they wore down an undermanned Bison team, which had just 10 field players dressed for the game.

Kaleigh Murphy (Pembroke, Mass.) netted a pair of goals, Ashley D'Elia (Watertown, Conn.)  and Bre Foley (S. Hadley, Mass.) each added their first collegiate goals, and Emily Martin (Southwick, Mass.) found the back of the net for Westfield to cap the scoring.

Sophomore Emma Gnaidek (Worcester, Mass./Doherty) made three saves in goal for Westfield.

New Owls head coach Carden Brown picked up her first collegiate coaching win in her debut as head coach for the Owls.  She served as an assistant on the Westfield State staff last season.