SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 30, 2021) – After rounding out the season with a 7-2 conference record, the Western New England University Golden Bears women's soccer team was stunned on their home field as the #6 seeded Roger Williams University Hawks scored two second half goals to lead themselves into the semifinal game. #3 Western New England sees their season come to a close with the loss. 

Records:

• Western New England: 11-7
• Roger Williams University: 13-7

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears did not waste any time in the opening minutes as they put together two shots in opening seconds of the game as both shots came off the foot of Summer Hathaway, though both were denied by GK Morgan McCutcheon for the Hawks. The first five of six shots in the game belonged to the Golden Bears, though all five shots were turned aside from scoring chances. The Golden Bears continued to pepper McCutcheon with shots, and eventually would break through in the 25^th minute of the contest.

After the ball was floated into the middle of the field, senior Autumn Hathaway led a through ball to the top left of the box for fellow senior teammate Allison Bruehwiler to run onto. Bruehwiler took one extra dribble and lift a shot up and into the back of the net to give Western New England the 1-0 lead. Bruehwiler tallies her eighth goal of the season, while Hathaway collects her fourth assists on the year. At the half, WNE would keep their one goal lead while leading in shots 12-5. GK Molly McLaughlin made four saves in the opening 45 minutes to keep Roger Williams off the scoreboard. 

Western New England's offense would continue their attack in the second half, though Roger Williams would counter the Golden Bears attack early in the half, and strike for their first goal of the game. Bianca Robbins, co-CCC player of the year, found a loose ball inside of the box and took a shot into the empty cage to tie the game at one all. Robbins initial shot was blocked down by the defense of WNE, though McLaughlin came out of her net to block the shot as well, leaving the cage open for an attempt. The ball was found by Robbins, who tucked it the net to tally her team leading 14^th goal on the season. 

Just ten minutes after the goal from Robbins, Roger Williams would move up the field on a solo rush and score their second goal of the game. Rachel Oster made a solo effort down the field to race past the Golden Bears defense and was able to tuck the ball into the lower left part of the net to give the Hawks the 2-1 lead. Oster tallies her 6^th goal of the season. 

Western New England, in search of a goal to continue their season put all the pressure on the Roger Williams goalkeeper and defense, putting together shot after shot in the half as well as being awarded with eight corner kicks in the half. The Golden Bears best chance came in the 81^st minute when the Golden Bears nearly took advantage of a corner kick. A. Hathaway sent a ball into the box that found the foot of Danielle McCarthy who took a shot in the midst of a crowd that got through to the Hawks goalkeeper, though knocked down and out of play to keep WNE off the scoreboard. Western New England put together five shots in the final ten minutes of the game though none of them were able to find twine as the #6 seeded Roger Williams Hawks took down the #3 seeded Golden Bears by a score of 2-1. 

Inside the Box:

• Western New England took 27 shots in the losing effort to Roger Williams' nine on the afternoon. WNE took 15 shots in the second half, with seven being on goal.
• Allison Bruehwiler scored the lone goal for the Golden Bears, marking her 8^th on the season. Bruehwilerfinishes the season with eight goals and eight assists, good for 24 points on the year, a team best.
• Autumn Hathaway took a game high six shots, four sailing on goal in the contest. 
• Roger Williams saw their leading goal scorer tally her 14^th goal on the season as Bianca Robbins netted an unassisted tally in the 52^nd minute. 
• After defeating Roger Williams 3-1 earlier this season, WNE drops to 5-13-5 all time against the Hawks.

Up Next on the Schedule: 

• With the loss, the Golden Bears season ends with a record of 11-7.
• Roger Williams will travel to the University of New England for the CCC semifinal game on Wednesday November 3.