Dudley, Mass. (October 19, 2023) - The Golden Bears headed to Dudley, Massachusetts, for a CCC showdown with the Bison of Nichols College. The Golden Bears were looking to rebound after their first CCC loss of the season against Gordon College. The first half ended without a team in the lead. However, Gabby Sansone would net a goal in the second half to push the Golden Bears to a 1-0 win.

Records:

• Western New England: 9-3-2 (6-1-0)
• Nichols College: 3-10-2 (0-5-1)

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears kicked off the game with Molly McLaughlin in net. Adie Hughes was on the other end of the pitch in net for the Bison. Jordan Paré would start the game off with a shot in the 2nd minute that missed high of the net. Paré would follow that up with another shot in the 7th minute. This shot was on goal, but Hughes made the save in the lower left corner of the net. Jenna Condon would then get the Bison on the stat sheet in the 11th minute with a shot. However, the Golden Bear defense got in the way and blocked the shot. Falyn Hunt followed that shot with a shot in the 14th minute. This shot got past the defense but was high and right of the net. The ball went back and forth for a few minutes, ending with Abby Free getting a shot on net. Another shot to the bottom left corner, and Hughes would make another save. The 22nd minute saw WNE with a massive opportunity. Brynn Murphy made a move on the left side of the field and sent a shot right at the goal. However, it slammed off the crossbar and out of play. The game was still at 0-0. Lindsay Reidy had an opportunity two minutes later, but the Bison defense blocked the shot. That would lead to both teams keeping the ball in the middle 50% of the field for around seven minutes. 

The Bison would take the next shot, and it was Hunt getting another shot off, and this one would be on McLaughlin. McLaughlin made the save and kept the game moving with a tied score. The Bison had some energy and saw another shot in the same minute from Emily Feisthamel. However, it was blocked. That led to a push by the Golden Bears, concluding with Reidy getting a shot off, but it missed wide left. Grace Killman would answer that shot with one in the 34th minute. It was blocked by the WNE defense. Liza Pinette then had a shot in the 35th minute. However, it missed to the right of the net. It was followed in the 36th minute by Murphy having another shot, and Hughes had to make this save to keep the game knotted at zero. In the 38th minute, it was back to Pinette, who sent a shot over the net. Then, Reidy sent a shot to the right of the net in the 41st minute. The Bison then had three of the final four shots to end the half. Feisthamel, Alana Snow, and Killman all had shots during those final four minutes. Snow's shot was on net, and McLaughlin made the save. Reidy had the final shot of the half, and it would find Hughes, who made the save and kept the game scoreless going into halftime. At the break, The Golden Bears had more shots, 11-8, and more shots on goal, 4-2. Nichols had more saves, 4-2, and more corners, 2-1. Both teams had seven fouls after one half of play.

Play got started in the second half with a Bison kickoff. Murphy started the action in the 50th minute with a shot that missed to the right of the net. Pinette then sent a shot over the net in the 51st minute. The Golden Bears would retain possession and eventually turn the possession into two shots. One by Reidy, who was saved by Hughes, and another by Murphy, whom Hughes made another save on. The Golden Bears were getting shots on net, but Hughes made save after save. The Bison then turned defense into offense, and Hunt had a shot that McLaughlin had to save. The Golden Bears turned the game back around with a Murphy shot that Hughes had to make a save on again. Reidy then had a shot miss left of the net. The Golden Bears were ramping up the pressure and looking for the opening goal of the game. Paré kept that pressure up with a shot on net that Hughes was there to save again. Finally, in the 63rd minute, the Golden Bears would capitalize and get the game's opening goal. Isabella Montalvo sent a shot at Hughes. Hughes made the save, but the ball would drop in front of the net, and Sansone was there to send it into the back of the net and give the Golden Bears the 1-0 lead.

The Golden Bears did not take their foot off the gas, though. Paré had a shot blocked, which led to Reidy having a shot on goal. Hughes would make the save. Then, Snow had a shot at the Golden Bear net, but it missed high. The 68th minute saw Montalvo send a shot wide of the net. Murphy would follow with a shot in the 74th minute. Hughes would save that shot. Murphy would return in the 76th minute for a shot. However, this one was sent over the net. Killman tried to get a shot off for the Bison, but the Golden Bear defense blocked another shot. The game was starting to come to a close, but the Golden Bears were still pushing forward. Murphy and Julia Frappier both had shots blocked in the final ten minutes. Sarah Rucci would try to get a shot on net for the Bison afterward. The shot would go over the net. The final shot came in the 87th minute. Rucci missed to the left of the net. The game would finish up a few minutes later. The final stat line saw the Golden Bears lead in shots 26-13, shots on goal 11-3, corners 7-2, and fouls 13-11. The Bison led in saves, 10-3. The Golden Bears left Dudley, Massachusetts, with a 1-0 win.

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears traveled to Dudley, Massachusetts, to face off with the Bison.
• Gabby Sansone netted the winning goal in the 63rd minute. Isabella Montalvo was credited with the assist. The Golden Bears led 1-0.
• Adie Hughes made ten saves against the Golden Bears.
• Molly McLaughlin made three saves and earned the shutout victory.
• The Golden Bears won the game by a score of 1-0.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will head home for their final home game of the regular season. The Golden Bears will welcome in the Gulls of Endicott College at noon on Saturday, October 21, for a top-of-the-table matchup.
• Nichols will travel to Hartford University on Saturday, October 21, at 1:00 PM for their next game.