Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Senior Jake Bartnik scored the game-winning goal with 2 minutes and 22 seconds remaining to lift Western New England to a 3-2 victory Saturday over visiting Wentworth in Commonwealth Coast Conference men's soccer action at Suprenant Field. The regionally-ranked Golden Bears won their fourth conference game in a row to improve to 10-3-1 on the season, including a 4-1 CCC mark, while the Leopards slip to 2-11 and 2-3.

After getting denied on a penalty kick attempt by Wentworth keeper Chase Richard just 2 minutes earlier, Bartnik regrouped and confidently deposited his team-leading eighth goal past Richard to break a 2-2 tie, avoiding overtime. Senior Ryan Williams was credited with an assist on the play--his team-leading seventh of the season to extend a career high.

Western New England struck quickly--54 seconds after the opening kickoff--on an odd goal. After Chad Barrett drew a foul in front of the Wentworth bench, senior defender Jon Axton was awarded a direct free kick from about 45 yards from goal. The result was Axton's first goal since 2010 as the ball sailed over the head of Richard and into the back of the net.

But Wentworth also benefited from a strange goal on a set piece, tying the game at 1-1 in the 27th minute. Halfway between WNE's 18-yard line and midfield, defender Sam Martins sent a ball into the box that bounced untouched through a maze of players in front of the Golden Bears goal and into the lower right corner.

After Tyler McQuesten put the Leopards up, 2-1, with his first goal of the season in the 52nd minute, freshman Neil Williams countered with his second tally to tie the score in the 59th.

With positioning at a premium in the CCC standings at this time of year, neither team was willing to give up any ground in a physical contest that featured 10 yellow cards (6 for WIT, 4 for WNE) and 37 fouls combined.

Senior co-captain Domenick Villano had five saves for WNE, including stopping Adam Rhodes 53 seconds before Bartnik's game-winner to preserve a 2-2 tie at the time. Richard finished with four.

The Golden Bears have already surpassed last season's win total of a 9-9-3 record in 2012, returning to prominence in the New England Region with a top-10 ranking.

Western New England's next game will be at CCC opponent Curry in Milton on Wednesday, starting at 7 p.m.