SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 1, 2016) - Senior Taylor Scialdone (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) scored the go-ahead goal with 2:22 remaining, lifting the Western New England University women's lacrosse team to a 10-9 victory over Westfield State University this afternoon in non-conference action at Golden Bear Stadium.

Scialdone led the way for Western New England with a team-high five points (four goals, one assist), while classmates Tori Cirocco (Carmel, N.Y.) and Brooke Kumnick (Granby, Conn.) combined for five goals and two assists. Senior Ashley Brunner (Stratford, Conn.) also chipped in with one goal and one assist as the Golden Bears earned their first victory of the 2016 campaign. Sophomore Shannon McFadden (West Islip, N.Y.) made a game-high ten saves in the cage, improving her record to 1-1.
 
Senior Samantha Lungarini (Agawam, Mass.) had a hand in seven of Westfield State's nine goals, netting three herself while setting up four others. Sophomore Brooke Williams (Wilbraham, Mass.) also finished with three goals, and senior Blair Smith (Milford, Mass.) added two.

The Owls employed three different goalies over the course of the contest, with senior Mimi Khampaeng (Hampden, Mass.) taking the loss after allowing six goals on 13 shots in 39:06 of action.
 
Led by a pair of goals from Lungarini, Westfield State jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the 16:27 mark of the first half. Scialdone got the Golden Bears on the board less than a minute later, however, and Western New England dominated the remainder of the period en route to a 5-3 lead at the break.

The Golden Bears continued to roll early in the second half, as Brunner, Cirocco and Scialdone each scored over the first 7:25 of the frame to extend Western New England's advantage to five (8-3). Kumnick pushed the margin to six with her fifth goal of the season at the 16:14 mark, but Westfield State would mount a late comeback to pull even.

Smith and Williams fueled the Owls' 6-0 rally with a pair of goals each, as the visitors tied the score at 9-9 with 5:49 on the clock. Scialdone spoiled Westfield State's comeback bid, however, scoring her fourth of the game on a feed from Brunner at the 2:22 mark. The Owls' had an opportunity to equalize again with 1:36 remaining, but McFadden was there to thwart the close range attempt.

The two teams were even in shots (24-24) and shots on goal (19-19), while Westfield State held a 30-28 edge in ground balls and the Golden Bears owned a 12-9 advantage in draw controls.

Western New England (1-1) wraps up its season-opening three-game homestand on Saturday afternoon against Smith, while Westfield State (0-1) returns to action next Wednesday at Mount Holyoke.