Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. – The Western New England University women's soccer team took the field in conference action for the second time this season, picking up their first conference win over the Bison of Nichols College from the Bison Soccer Field on Friday afternoon. The Golden Bears got production from sophomore forward Isabella Montalvo, who scored both tallies in the 2-0 win.
Records:
- Western New England: 5-3 (1-1 CCC)
- Nichols College: 3-4-1 (0-2 CCC)
How it Happened:
As she has in all previous seven games for the Golden Bears on the season, sophomore goalkeeper Molly McLaughlin tended to the pipes in the team's first road CCC competition. McLaughlin was tested early by the Bison as Niah Samboy took a shot on goal, but McLaughlin was able to deny the early chance in the 7thminute by Nichols College to keep the game scoreless. Adie Hughes made the start for the Bison and was also tested as Allison Bruehwiler forced Hughes to come up with a save in the 22nd minute though Hughes let out a big rebound that was put into the back of the net by Isabella Montalvo to give the Golden Bears the early 1-0 lead. Montalvo knocks in her second goal of the season for Western New England.
Following the marker from Montalvo, the Golden Bears would continue to shoot the ball on Hughes, though Hughes was up to the task, making the final three saves before the horn of the first half. In the half, Western New England outshot the Bison 8-1, with WNE taking five shots on goal. The Golden Bears would take the only three corner kicks of the half.
Western New England would continue to put on the pressure in the second half, though not before McLaughlin was again tested in the opening minutes of a half as Samboy took a shot just a minute and a half into the second half, with the result being the same as the first, a save from McLaughlin. The Golden Bears best chance of the second half came in the 63rd minute when Autumn Hathaway would take a strike that would ring the crossbar, followed by a chance from Montalvo that was denied by Hughes to keep WNE off the scoreboard.
The Golden Bears saw the opportunity to get on the board late in the second half and capitalized on the chance in the 76th minute when Allison Bruehwiler founded her teammate in Montalvo and sent a through ball forward for Montalvo to go in one on one on Hughes. Montalvo lifted the ball up and over the diving goalkeeper and into the back of the net to give the Golden Bears the 2-0 lead. The Golden Bears would hold onto the two-goal lead and not allow Nichols into the attacking third of the field. Western New England would take the 2-0 win as their first conference victory of the season.
Inside the Lines:
- WNE saw Isabella Montalvo score their two goals of the game. Montalvo picks up her first career multi-goal game.
- Western New England took 18 shots in the win, with the Bison taking just four towards goal in their second conference loss of the season. Nichols was only able to put two shots on goal.
- The Golden Bears collected the only five corner kicks in the game. Nichols College failed to produce a corner kick in their loss.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- The Golden Bears will return home after a two-game road trip as they will host Suffolk University on Saturday, October 2 at 12:00 as part of "Homecoming Weekend" at Western New England.
- The Bison will travel to MCLA for a makeup game on Tuesday, September 28 at 6:00 pm. The game was originally scheduled for September 1 before the rain cancellation.
