Field Hockey Tabbed to Finish Second in MASCAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State field hockey team was picked to finish second in the conference as part of the 2024 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference preseason poll as voted on by the coaches throughout the league.

The Owls collected 22 points and two first-place votes, just two points behind Worcester State which was chosen to repeat as MASCAC Champions after tallying 24 points and the remaining four first-place votes. Framingham State followed the Owls in the third-place position, gathering 17 points.

Last season, Westfield matched the single-season program record with 12 wins under first-year head coach Carden Brown, posting a 12-8 overall mark and an 8-2 record in the MASCAC. The Owls secured the second seed in the MASCAC Tournament, losing in double overtime to third-seeded Framingham, 2-1 in the conference semifinals.

Westfield graduated eight seniors from last year's team, but still have several impact players returning, including the Owls top two goal scorers in Taylor Creech (Kennebunk, Maine) and Kaleigh Murphy (Pembroke, Mass.). Both led Westfield with seven goals apiece while Creech led the team with 17 points followed by Murphy at 16 points.  

In between the posts in net, Emma Gniadek (Worcester, Mass.) returns after recording a 1.50 goals against average in 15 appearances for the Owls. Starting in 12 games for Westfield, she amounted a 5-5 record with one of those victories decided in a 2-1 game against Worcester State where she registered six saves.

Field hockey returned to campus to begin the preseason this past Tuesday as Westfield State will prepare for the 2024 regular season opener at Smith College as the Owls face Ohio Wesleyan on Friday, August 30 at 4:30 P.M. in a neutral game as part of the Caryl Newhof Classic.