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FH 10.31.23
0
Nichols NICHOLS (6-11)
4
Winner Western New Eng. WNE (14-4)
Nichols NICHOLS
(6-11)
0
Final
4
Western New Eng. WNE
(14-4)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Nichols NICHOLS 0 0 0 0 0
Western New Eng. WNE 1 3 0 0 4

Game Recap: Field Hockey |

Johnston Leads WNE Field Hockey Into CCC Semifinal Game in 4-0 Win over Nichols

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 31, 2023) – The Western New England field hockey team advanced to the CCC semifinal contest for the third straight season after defeating Nichols College in the CCC First Round game, taking down the Bison by a final score of 4-0. 
 
Records:
  • Western New England: 14-4
  • Nichols College: 6-11
How it Happened:
Western New England would waste little time getting on the board in the CCC First Round game, looking to advance to the CCC semifinals for the third straight season. After Olivia Eastman recorded a penalty corner, their second of the game, Haley Kaczka would see the ball bounce to her stick while the sophomore took a shot towards goal, finding the stick of Sarah Johnston, who deflected the ball in front of the net to Olivia Eastman, who found the ball and slotted it into the back of the net, giving WNE a 1-0 lead. The Golden Bears would outshoot the Bison 5-1 in the opening frame, with the lone shot of the first quarter being blocked, while WNE would record two chances late in the first quarter, though Sophia Venable would deny the chances from Western New England.

The Golden Bears would be active in the second quarter, amassing 11 penalty corners in just over 20 minutes of game action. The Golden Bears would find the back of the goal for the second time in the opening half after another inserted penalty corner by Olivia Eastman. Haley Kaczka would see a shot on goal saved, while Carly-Anna Barba would grab the rebound and send a pass back over to Kaczka, who found the back of the net for her team leading 13th goal of the season to send WNE ahead 2-0. WNE would add another goal when Sarah Johnston found the back of the net for the eighth time this season, grabbing her first goal since September 26 to give WNE a 3-0 lead. The Golden Bears continue to control the play on offense, scoring their fourth goal of the game when Sarah Johnston grabbed another tally on an assist from Carly-Anna Barba to extend Western New England's lead to four. WNE took their four-goal lead into the second half, outshooting Nichols 11-1. WNE took 16 penalty corners in total in the first half to the Bisons' one.

Western New England would come away with all the offensive attack in the third quarter, though they could not find the back of the net. WNE outshot the Bison 7-0 and 4-0 on goal. The blue and gold were awarded two penalty corners in the third, though they could not come up with their fifth strike of the game. The Bison came up empty in the third quarter, with Sophia Venable coming away with four saves for Nichols in the quarter.

The Bison came away with their best chance of the second half to begin the fourth quarter, earning just their second penalty corner of the night, but could not come up with a shot on goal, staying off the scoreboard. Neither team would find the back of the net from there, as Western New England would take the 4-0 win over the Bison to advance to the CCC semifinals.

Inside the Lines:
  • Western New England advances to the CCC semifinals for the third consecutive season.
  • Sarah Johnston led WNE offensively, netting two goals while picking up an assist.
  • Carly-Anna Barba recorded two assists for WNE.
  • Neither Ella Henry nor Zoey Wexler needed to make a save for the Golden Bears, as Nichols recorded just one shot in the game. WNE outshot Nichols 23-1.
  • WNE was awarded 19 penalty corners in the contest.
Up Next on the Schedule:
  • Western New England heads to top-seeded Roger Williams University on Thursday, November 2, at 4:00 p.m. for a chance at the CCC Championship game.
 
 
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