Playing for Keeps: Owls Kick Off Fall Seasons on Friday, Aug. 30 !

WESTFIELD, Mass. --- Westfield State's fall sports teams spring into action this weekend, as the Owls have  six of their varsity teams begin action starting Friday, August 30.

Westfield State Field Hockey opens their season against Ohio Wesleyan at the Caryl Newhof Classic tournament at Smith College in nearby Northampton, Mass.. Wesleyan went 17-1 last season as they were undefeated in regular season play but fell short in the NCAC Championship game. The Owls finished the 2023 fall with a 12-8 record under head coach Carden Brown, matching the school record for wins in a season, and look to take down one of the best in D3 field hockey last season as they had this one marked on the calendars since spring.  Westfield will face either host Smith, or Nichols College on Saturday, based on the outcomes of Friday's games.

Women's volleyball has a packed weekend, competing at the Joel B. Dearing '79 Classic opening weekend tournament at Springfield College starting Friday, August 30. The Owls take on Rivier on Friday at 5:00 p.m., then the hosts Springfield, and Keene State on Saturday morning.  Coach Fred Glanville's Westfield team went undefeated (7-0) last season in conference play and is projected to finish first in the MASCAC this fall. The Owls will get a test from the non-conference competition this weekend.

Women's Soccer is also opening the season on the road as they make their way to Tennessee for the Maryville College Women's Fall Classic. The Owls will take on Sewanee on Friday, August 30, and host Maryville on Saturday, August 31. Westfield went 13-7-1 a year and capped it off with a MASCAC Championship and an NCAA tournament bid.  Coach Todd Ditmar's Owls will get a stern test right out of the gate, as both opponents also advanced to the NCAA tournament last season.

The Westfield State men's soccer is the only home game at Alumni Field for opening weekend. The Owls take on SUNY-Cobleskill on Friday, August 30 at 7 P.M. Westfield finished with an impressive 5-2 record in the MASCAC along with a MASCAC Championship appearance under head coach Dr. Christopher Streeter in 2023. The Owls are projected to finish third in the conference this season but are looking to shock a few people.

Both the men's and women's cross-country teams are competing this weekend at the Keene State Alumni Meet on Saturday, August 31 at 10 A.M. Both men's and women's won their MASCAC final meet to crown them champions of the MASCAC. The men will look to make it two in a row under head coach Marlee Berg-Haryasz' guidance while the women are going for their fourth straight title.

Live video and stats where available on the WWW.WestfieldStateOwls.com website, so don't miss out on any of the action.

-- written by Hunter Briggs, sports information graduate assistant