Rennich Tallies Twice As Owls Open With Win

WESTFIELD, Mass. –   Jenn Rennich (Bedford, Mass.) scored a pair of goals as Westfield State women's soccer got off to a fast start to the 2022 season, as the Owls dispatched Mount Holyoke College 3-0 in the season opener at Alumni field in the opening game of the Owls Kickoff Classic, powered by Westfield Gas and Electric and Whip City Fiber.

Westfield took a 1-0 lead 11 minutes into the match when Rennich ran on to a looping pass from Delaney Parker (Orange, Mass.)  and slotted a shot inside the left post. Marissa Jacob (Holden, Mass./Wachussett) picked up an assist on the play as well, initiating the action with a throw in near midfield.

Rennich added her second of the day in the 40^th minute, as Jaida Cochran (Middleboro, Mass.) fed a long through-ball out of the back, which Rennich ran on to near midfield and carried in to the offensive end before beating Lyons goalkeeper Clarissa Gouvea (Pico Rivera, Calif.) to the bottom right.

The Owls got an insurance goal late as first-year Kiki McNary (Brattleboro, Vt.) found a loose ball in the penalty area and found the back of the net for a 3-0 lead in the 76^th minute, and her first collegiate goal.

Westfield outshot the Lyons 30-3 in the match and had a 19-3 advantage in shots on goal.

Mount Holyoke got 13 saves from Gouvea and three from Teal Howe (Florence, S.C.).    Westfield's Lauryn Davis (Templeton, Mass./Quabbin) made two saves, and the Owls got a big play early in the game from Jacob, who cleared an imminent goal off the line.

Westfield will face Springfield College tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. in the final game of the Owls Kickoff Classic.  The tournament pairings were pre-arranged.

In Sunday's first match, the Lyons will kick off with the University of New England at Noon.