Gniadek, Curran Earn Weekly Honors

WESTFIELD, Mass.  --     Westfield State University field hockey players picked up two of the three weekly awards from the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, as senior goalkeeper Emma Gniadek (Worcester, Mass./Doherty) was cited as the league's defensive player of the week, and first-year forward Kacey Curran (Fall River, Mass./Durfee) was selected as the loop's rookie of the week.

Gniadek posted a 0.50 goals-against average on the week, needing just two saves in a 2-0 shutout of Framingham State, then making seven saves in a 2-1 win over Worcester State.   Gniadek made three saves in the final 90 seconds of the win over Worcester to preserve the victory.

Curran factored in the scoring in both of the Owls' wins, picking up an assist in the victory over Framingham, and netting the first goal of the game on a rebound in the win over the Lancers.  Through seven games this season, Curran is third on the team in points with six, on two goals and two assists.

Westfield State senior forward Kaleigh Murphy (Pembroke, Mass.) was named to the league's weekly honor roll.  She tallied the game winning goal in both games for the Owls.

Westfield is now 4-3 overall and 2-0 in MASCAC play.  The Owls will next play a non-conference game at Johnson and Wales in Providence, R.I. on Wednesday, before returning home to host new MASCAC member Anna Maria College on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. at Alumni Field in Westfield.