SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 26, 2023) – The Western New England field hockey team dropped their first home game of the season in their final regular season game of the year as the visiting Seahawks of Salve Regina University would need overtime to get by the Golden Bears, winning 2-1 from Golden Bear Stadium.

Records:

• Western New England: 13-4
• Salve Regina: 10-5

How it Happened:
The Golden Bears looked to close their schedule out in style with a home game against the Salve Regina University Seahawks. Western New England had not lost on home turf and had not lost in non-conference action this season, going 9-0 on home turf and 11-0 in non-conference action. Western New England began the contest with an early save from their sophomore goalkeeper Ella Henry, who stood tall twice in the opening three minutes of the game, making two quick saves. The Golden Bears would dominate the action from there, holding possession for much of the first quarter. Analise Trani came away with the first shot on goal for WNE in the quarter, while the blue and gold were awarded seven penalty corners in the opening frame. Neither team would score in the opening 15 minutes, ending the first quarter 0-0. WNE outshot Salve 6-2.

Western New England maintained much of the offense in the second quarter aside from the two awarded penalty corners to Salve Regina in the opening two minutes of the second. Olivia Eastman and Kara Edwards would both come away with shots in the second quarter, though Salve Regina goalkeeper Bryn Protheroe would come away with three saves to keep WNE off the scoreboard. Western New England took seven shots on goal in the opening half, though none would find the back of the net.

In the third quarter, Salve Regina would begin to find their offensive attack, coming away with two shots in the opening five minutes of the quarter. Ella Henry would stand tall for the Golden Bears, not allowing a goal for the Seahawks. Salve outshot Western New England 3-2 in the third, though Western New England would grab the only goal of the quarter. Sarah Johnston would dribble down the right side of the field and would send the ball into the arc, where the ball was wacked at by Kayla Antonelli, who was able to find the back of the net, scoring her third goal of the season, giving the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead with just 39 seconds to play in the third quarter.

Salve Regina would get on the scoreboard quickly in the fourth quarter when Georgia Costello quickly came down the opposite side of the field and ripped a shot into the lower left corner of the net, grabbing her ninth goal of the season, evening the score at one. WNE would come away with four shots in the frame, with Kara Edwards striking for two shots on goal, both turned aside by the Salve goalkeeper. The contest would need overtime as Western New England would come away with 17 shots through the first four quarters of play.

Both teams exchanged shots in the opening two minutes of play when Shannon Kennedy took a shot that trickled just wide of the Golden Bears case, while a chance to win the game for Taya Buntin was denied by Salve Regina. Salve would turn the save into transition offense, and Jordyn Pineau would dribble down the right side of the field and took a beeming shot that found its way under Ella Henry and into the back of the net, giving Salve Regina the 2-1 win, stunning WNE on home turf.

Inside the Lines:

• Western New England outshot Salve 18-8 in the game and 12-5 on goal.
• After seven penalty corners to open the game, Western New England was not awarded another penalty corner in the final 47 minutes of play.
• Ella Henry made three saves on the night.
• Kayla Antonelli scored WNE's only goal, her third of the season.
• WNE drops its first home game of the season after winning nine straight.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England heads into the CCC Tournament and will begin play next week, with a time and date to be announced following CCC action on Saturday, October 28.