Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 26, 2022) – The Western New England women's lacrosse team saw a ten-goal lead slide to as little as six in the fourth quarter before the Golden Bears were able to ice the game late in the fourth quarter, picking up a conference opening win over the Nor'easters of the University of New England by a final score of 16-8 from Golden Bear Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Records:
- Western New England: 6-2, 1-0 CCC
- University of New England: 1-7, 0-1 CCC
How it Happened:
The Golden Bears started off on a rapid pace of goals, scoring five goals in the opening six minutes of the game to take an early 5-0 lead. Anabella Arias led off Western New England with an unassisted tally while Samantha Vitka would grab the next goal, unassisted, putting WNE ahead 2-0. Reilly Miller scored her first of the afternoon on an Ally Ferraro assist, while Hannah Jarvis notched a helper on Arias's second goal of the name to give WNE a four goal lead. Liz Mazza found the scoresheet on the goal from Jarvis to end Western New England's run, scoring the first five in the quarter. UNE would get their lone first quarter goal with 7:16 remaining in the quarter, though that would quickly be answered by Mazza's second of the night as Western New England took a 6-1 lead after the firs 15 minutes of play. WNE took 16 shots in the first quarter, while UNE came away with just four.
Similar to the first quarter, the second quarter opened with four Western New England goals before the Nor'easters were able to capitalize. Arias would open the scoring just 30 seconds into the quarter on an unassisted tally while Jarvis would pick up her first of the game from Mazza, giving WNE an 8-1 lead. Mia Celentano would score the 9th WNE goal while a player down at the 9:16 mark to give Western New England a 9-1 lead. Emmy Burns, Madisyn Crotta, and Ally Hill rounded out the scoring in the second frame for WNE, as the Golden Bears took a ten-goal lead into the break. Western New England would again outshoot UNE, this time 13-6 on the second 15 minutes of play.
The Nor'easters would find their game in the third frame, coming away with the only four goals of the quarter, shutting out the red hot Western New England offense. Goals from Ann Chapman, Skyler McComas (2), and Morgan White would be the only markings of the contest in the third quarter for UNE, as the Golden Bears held onto a six-goal lead after three quarters of play. UNE had their best quarter in the third, outshooting WNE 11-9.
With the threat from the Nor'easters in the third quarter, Arias came out for the Golden Bears and ripped a quick goal just 26 seconds into the fourth to regain momentum for the WNE. The University of New England would not go down without a fight, however, as two goals in two minutes for UNE would find themselves five goals out of a tie with plenty of game remaining. Western New England would respond in the final ten minutes and shut down the Nor'easters, not allowing anymore goals while picking up three insurance markers in a five-minute span. Miller, Ferraro and Kylie Buchanan would all find twine in that span to give WNE a 16-8 lead, a lead they held for the final five minutes of the contest, coming away with an eight-goal win to open CCC play.
Inside the Numbers:
- Anabella Arias (3 G), Reilly Miller (2 G), Hannah Jarvis (1 G, 4 A), Samantha Vitka (1 G, 2 A), Ally Ferraro (2 G, 1 A), Liz Mazza (2 G, 1 A), and Ally Hill (1 G, 1 A) all collected at least two points for WNE in the win.
- WNE used four goalkeepers on the afternoon, as Faith Graveline would come away with six saves in the first 30 minutes of play. Riley Franzo made two saves in the third quarter, while Emily Lake also came away two saves in the fourth quarter, combining for ten WNE saves on the afternoon.
- UNE would outshoot the Golden Bears in both the third and fourth quarters, though WNE outshot the Nor'easters 47-28 in the 60 minutes of play.
- UNE goalkeeper Madison Bruzzese made 15 saves in the losing effort.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- Western New England travels to Curry College on Wednesday, March 30 at 7:00 pm for a CCC game.
- UNE hosts Endicott College on Wednesday, March 30, also in CCC action.
