WESTFIELD, Mass. –  Westfield State senior Emma Cretella scored six goals to lead the way, as the Owls women's lacrosse team overcame a slow start to pull away late and defeat Western New England University 18-12 in the season opener for both teams at Alumni Field on Friday evening.

Goals were plentiful in the first half as the Golden Bears (0-1) led 6-4 after the first period, with Samantha Vitka netting the last two goals of the period.   WNE led 7-5 after a Hannah Jarvis goal with 13:52 left in the second quarter before Westfield's offense got in sync.

Cassidy Harvey scored a woman-up goal with 6:09 left in the quarter, forcing a turnover behind the goal and scooping up the loose ball to fire into the empty net. Then Cretella netted back to back goals, the second on a free position attempt with 4:05 left in the second quarter to give the Owls an 8-7 lead.   Westfield (1-0) led 10-8 at the half.

In the second half, Westfield gradually pulled away, extending the lead to 12-9 at the end of the third quarter, extending to 14-9 with Cretella and Cassidy Connolly tallying the first two markers of the second half, with Connolly taking a feed from Natalie DeMaio on the right side and burying it in the back of the net.

DeMaio added three goals and three assists for the Owls, Megan Bailey finished with three goals, and Connolly, Harvey and Nicole Rinkus each got two apiece.    In goal, Kara Banagan played the final three quarters for Westfield and made 10 saves while allowing just six goals.

Western New England was led by five goals from Jarvis, and two from Vitka. Faith Graveline went the distance in goal and made eight saves.

Westfield waited three extra days to play their opener, as Tuesday's snowstorm postponed one game, and the matchup with the Bears, originally scheduled for Thursday, was pushed back an extra day as well for improved field conditions.

Westfield will be back in action on Thursday, March 9 traveling to Keene State for a non-conference matchup.