SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 24, 2023) – The Western New England field hockey team squeezed by the Lyons of Mount Holyoke College on Tuesday evening from Golden Bears Stadium, getting an early goal from Amanda Burns before using shutdown defense to record their eighth shutout of the season.

Records:

• Western New England: 13-3
• Mount Holyoke: 8-10

How it Happened:

Western New England, coming off a 1-0 loss in conference play last weekend, came away with all the offense in the opening 15 minutes of play. Haley Kazcka came away with the first chance for the Golden Bears off an inserted penalty corner by Kayla Antonelli, though Mount Holyoke goalkeeper Rachel Katzennberg would be up to the task. Sarah Johnston and Olyvia Whyte would come around with shots in the first, though they would not be able to find the back of the net. The Golden Bears would strike at the eight-minute mark when Amanda Burns dribbled by Mount Holyoke's defense and took a shot that squeezed by the Lyons defense and into the back of the net, giving WNE a 1-0 lead. Burnstallies her third goal of the season. WNE would outshoot Mount Holyoke 6-0 in the opening quarter, including 4-0 on goal.

Neither team would find the back of the net in the second quarter, as more offensive dominance would come from Western New England. The blue and gold would take four shots in the second quarter, coming away with three shots on goal, though they could not find the back of the net. Western New England took ten penalty corners in the first half, while Mount Holyoke was held shotless and without a penalty corner in the first 30 minutes of the game.

The Lyons came away with early chances in the opening minutes of the third quarter, grabbing their first shots of the game. Emily Bisson would rip a shot just wide of Ella Henry's guarded goal, while Linnea Alsted would do the same off the first penalty corner of the game for the Lyons. From there, Western New England would come away with three shots in succession as Kayla Antonelli, Sarah Johnston, and Taya Buntin would connect on shots, though they would come up empty on the scoreboard. Western New England would take a 1-0 lead into the final 15 minutes of play.

The Lyons would pressure for much of the fourth quarter and came away with their first shot on goal in the contest when Jayonna Montigney would be sent into the arc, one-on-one with Ella Henry, and the sophomore goalkeeper would be up to the task, stoning the Lyons forward and keeping Mount Holyoke off the scoreboard. The Golden Bears would hold on and defeat MHC 1-0.

Inside the Box:

• Amanda Burns scored her third goal of the season in the first quarter of the game, which held up to be the game-winning goal as WNE defeated Mount Holyoke 1-0.
• WNE outshot Mount Holyoke 15-4.
• Ella Henry came away with one save in the game—a clutch save in the fourth quarter that held MHC off the board.
• WNE has now won the last three meetings between the two teams.

 Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England returns home for their regular season finale, hosting the Seahawks of Salve Regina University on Thursday, October 26 at 7:00 pm.