University athletes rose to the top in the fall 2013 season
The men’s and women’s cross country teams and the women’s volleyball squad captured conference championships to highlight the 2013 fall semester for the varsity athletics program.
The women’s volleyball team of veteran head coach Fred Glanville earned a berth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament for the fourth time in five years by defeating favored Framingham State for the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) championship. Leading the Owls was the duo of Julia Warner ’14 and Lindsay Rescott ’14, both first-team all-conference selections. Warner, the MASCAC player of the year, is the first player in school history to record more than 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs. Setter Carolyn Cote ’15 was a second-team all-conference selection.
Warner also excelled in the classroom, as she was named to the 2013 Capital One Academic All-District women’s volleyball team. The prestigious scholar athlete team is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Thirteen student athletes earned Academic All-District honors in the past five years, including two members of the 2013 Westfield football squad—linebacker Troy Cutter ’15 and defensive back Greg Sheridan ’16.
Women’s cross country
The women’s cross country team continued its dynasty, capturing its 10th straight conference crown by out-running rival Bridgewater State. Strong pack running paced the Owls, who placed seven runners in the top 12. Olivia Marshall ’15 was Westfield State’s top runner, placing third, and Jenn Asci ’17 finished fourth to earn Conference Rookie of the Year honors. They were followed by Taylor Surrette ’17, Jenn Holley ’15, Andrea Domings ’14, Michelle Kelleher ’16 and Caitlin Ryan ’14.
Men’s cross country
The men’s cross country squad was even more dominating as it regained the MASCAC crown after being edged by Bridgewater in 2012; the men have won seven of the past 10 MASCAC championships and 24 overall.
Westfield State placed five runners in the top six, and 11 in the top 14, in compiling 18 points, the second lowest total in MASCAC meet history. Veteran head coach Bill Devine is excited about the team’s future, as six of his top seven runners in the MASCAC meet were underclassman.
Tim Shea ’16 crossed the finish line first to claim the MASCAC individual title. Earning MASCAC Rookie of the Year honors by placing second was Ben Parzich ’17. Other Owls earning all-conference honors by placing in the top 10 were Chris Williams ’17, Mike Skelly ’16, Cam Fairbanks ’14, Steve Connolly ’15 and Zak Gross ’15.
Women’s soccer
The women’s soccer team came up short in the quest for its fifth NCAA bid in six years, as it dropped a 3-2 double overtime decision to conference champion Bridgewater State in the MASCAC Tournament. The Owls ended the season with a 10-8 overall record and placed second in the conference with a 5-2 record.
Four members of the women’s soccer squad were selected all-conference. Midfielders Sarah Sypek ’15 and Ashleigh Chretien ’15 and back Katy Knight ’16 were first-team selections for the second consecutive year. Back Melissa Kulik ’16 was a second-team selection. Sypek emerged as a scoring threat to lead the Owls in goals (12) and points (26). Chretien was the team’s third leading scorer with 18 points, including a team-high seven assists.
Football
The football team provided many exciting moments despite finishing with a 5-5 record, as four of the losses were by a total of 12 points. Eight Owls were accorded all-conference honors. Defensive back Gregg Jackson ’14, a first-team selection, also was named to the New England Football Writers All-New England squad. Jackson tied for MASCAC-high honors with six interceptions.
Defensive lineman Jonathan Lytle ’15 and kick return specialist Kane Terilli ’14 were the University’s other first-team picks. Lytle emerged as a force on the defensive front with 63 tackles, including 14 for losses and five quarterback sacks. Terilli also was a second-team all-conference selection at wide receiver with 42 catches for 574 yards and six touchdowns.
Other second-team selections were linebacker Troy Cutter ’15; center Wayne McGillicuddy ’15; offensive guard Joe Kreinsen ’14; tight end Jeff Winchell ’14; and placekicker Michael Orellana ’17. Cutter posted a team-high 75 tackles and Winchell had 12 catches for 233 yards and a team-high 19.4 average.
Orellana, a former soccer player, booted nine of 16 field goal attempts and set a school record for longest field goal made (42 yards). McGillicuddy and Kreinsen anchored the offensive line that protected Owl quarterbacks, who only threw three interceptions the entire season; all three picks were in the final game.
