DANBURY, Conn. (September 21, 2021) – The Western New England University men's soccer team took to the road for just the third time this season and picked up their second road victory of the season as they knocked off the hosting Western Connecticut State University Colonials in a non-conference slate from the Westside Athletic Complex Tuesday night. Sean O'Neill, Mike Milazzo, and Matt Remillard all put tallies on the board for the Golden Bears in the win. 

Records:

• Western New England: 5-1-1 (1-0 CCC)
• Western Connecticut State: 6-3 (0-1 LEC) 

How it Happened:
The Golden Bears got the game's first goal in the 28nd minute as Sean O'Neill lined up for a free kick. O'Neill was able to lace a shot up and over the Western Connecticut State defensive wall and up past the outstretched reach of GK Daniel Szabo and into the back of the twine to give Western New England the early 1-0 lead. The Golden Bears are 5-0 this season when scoring the matches first goal.

After seeing the Golden Bears go ahead by a goal on their home turf, the Colonials wasted very little time to get themselves back into the contest. West Conn would capture a tally just seven minutes after the Golden Bears scored as Jordan Dacosta would net his first goal of the season. Off a long kick down the field from Szabo, Dacosta was able to tap in the goal for the Colonials to even the game at one. In the first half, Western Connecticut took six shots, while Western New England came away with five. Each team took one corner kick. 

The Golden Bears and Colonials would play a competitive second half which would leave to a stalemate on the scoreboard. Both goalkeepers would keep their teams in the game, coming up with big saves. GK Colin Waltsak made his first career start for the Golden Bears. 

Western New England would capitalize on a Colonials mistake late in the contest to jump out to the 2-1 lead. After the ball was returned to play, a West Conn defender mishandled a clearing attempt, which caused Ian Alves to find Mike Milazzo in all alone against the goalkeeper. Milazzo's right foot shot would find the bottom corner of the net to give Western New England the 2-1 lead. Milazzo grabs his third goal of the season for WNE. The Golden Bears would strike one final time in the game when the Colonials recived a corner kick, though the Golden Bears were able to take the ball all the way down the field to tally an empty net goal, with Szabo being aggressive in a last-minute effort for West Conn. Matt Remillard dribbled the ball all the way down the field and tucked the ball into the bottom right corner of the net to give WNE the 3-1 edge, which ended up being the final score of the match. 

Inside the Lines: 

• Western New England's late tally from Mike Milazzo lifted the Golden Bears to victory. WNE has scored three second half game winning goals this season to win three non-conference games. 
• Milazzo, along with teammate and captain Matt Remillard are now tied this season with seven points each to lead the team. Milazzo has two game winning goals for WNE on the season while Remillard has four assists to go along with his two goals on the season. 
• WNE starting goalkeeper Colin Waltsak allowed just one goal on six shot attempts by Western Connecticut, picking up his first win in a Golden Bears uniform. 
• In total, Western Connecticut took 15 shots towards Waltsak, though put just six of those on goal. Western New England took 13 shots, putting nine shots on goal. 
• Western New England managed just three corner kicks on the night, a season low. The Golden Bears held West Conn to four corner kicks. 

Up Next on the Schedule: 

• Western New England remains on the road as part of their three-game road trip as they will travel to Dudley, Mass. and Nichols College for a Commonwealth Coast Conference game on Saturday, September 25 at 11:00 am.
• Western Connecticut remains at home as they host Lehman College on Thursday, September 23 before returning to LEC play on Saturday at Westside Athletic Complex against Keene State.