Bristol, R.I. (October 7, 2023) - WNE headed to Bristol, Rhode Island, for a CCC matchup with the Hawks of Roger Williams University. The Hawks opened up the scoring. Jonathan Xavier would then equalize the score for the Golden Bears. However, the Hawks would answer with two more goals before the end of the first half. Roger Williams won the game 3-1.

• Western New England: 2-6-4 (2-1-1)
• Roger Williams University: 3-3-6 (1-1-1)

How it Happened:

The game started with Jack Avellar in the net for the Hawks and Braylon Casinghino in the other net for the Golden Bears. The Hawks put the pressure on the Golden Bears early with a shot by Max Patenaude that Casinghino had to save. That shot was followed up by a shot by Liam Blaisdell. That shot would sail over the crossbar and out of play. The Hawks had another major opportunity in the 14th minute. John Fogarty had the ball on the right side of the field and crossed it into the box. Dylan Thomas rose and deflected the ball into the back of the net for the game's opening goal. The Hawks had the lead 1-0. After that, Jonathan Xavier would sub in. Xavier had an immediate impact with the first Golden Bear shot of the day. Then, the second shot from Xavier would find the back of the net to equalize the game for the Golden Bears. Shay O'Neill would receive a throw-in. O'Neill would send a ball from outside the box into it, and it would find Xavier who sent a header shot to the keeper's right and into the back of the net. That was Xavier's first career Golden Bear goal.

The Golden Bears were tied with the Hawks, 1-1, in the 23rd minute of play. Shortly after that, in the 26th minute, the Hawks would reopen the lead. Matt Bagley was on the left side of the goal. Bagley found Dylan Robbins in the center of the box. Robbins sent it along to Thomas, who sent the ball into the back of the open net. The Hawks were up 2-1. The ball would go back and forth for a few minutes before the Hawks would strike for the third time in the first half. It was Bagley who sent the ball into the box. It would bounce off the WNE keeper and into the net. The Hawks were up 3-1. The Golden Bears had the only other major opportunity of the first half in the 38th minute of the game. AJ Quiterio sent a shot at Avellar, who made the save and kept the score at 3-1 going into halftime. Brennan Johnson had a shot for the Golden Bears after that, but it was wide left of the net. At the break in action, both teams had five shots per side. Both goalies made one save each. WNE had two shots on the net, and the Hawks had four. RWU had two corner kicks, and WNE had one. The Hawks were responsible for six fouls, and the Golden Bears had three.

After the break, the Golden Bears came out with a purpose. Roger Leland had a shot that the new keeper, Hogan Cain, had to save. In the 51st minute, Blaisdell followed that by sending a shot at Casinghino that was saved. That was quickly followed up by CJ Sousa sending a shot high of the Golden Bear net. The Golden Bears had a few corner kicks, but then Shay O'Neill went for goal in the 64th minute. The ball was sent wide left of the net. In the 67th minute, O'Neill went for goal again. This shot made Cain react and make a save. Sousa had a shot in the 71st minute. Casinghino made a major save to keep the deficit at two. That was followed by the Hawks getting a corner kick, but the WNE defense would parry that away from the net. Mike Milazzo would attempt to get the Golden Bears back into the game in the 75th minute. However, the ball went high and wide right of the goal.

Patenaude responded with a shot that Casinghino made a save on. Then, Leland tested Cain again, and Cain was equal to the task and made the save. Shay O'Neill sent a shot wide left of the goal in the 79th minute. Then, Will Schiffer had a shot blocked by the WNE defense. After the final ten minutes of the game going back and forth, the game would end with the Hawks beating the Golden Bears, 3-1. The teams would finish with 21 total shots. The Golden Bears had 11 shots, and the Hawks had 10. Roger Williams did have more shots on goal by a tally of 7-5. Casinghino made a total of four saves. Cain made three saves in the second half. Both teams had five corner kicks during the course of the game. WNE finished with more fouls, 16-12. That was the first conference loss for the Golden Bears. 

Inside the Lines:

• WNE traveled to Bristol, R.I., for a conference showdown against Roger Williams University.
• Dylan Thomas had the first goal of the game off an assist from John Fogarty in the 14th minute of play.
• Jonathan Xavier had the equalizing goal for the Golden Bears in the 23rd minute. Shay O'Neill was credited with the assist. 
• Dylan Thomas had the second goal of the game for the Hawks. Dylan Robbins and Matt Bagley had the assists. That goal came in the 26th minute. 
• Matt Bagley had the third and final goal for the Hawks in the 32nd minute of play. 
• Braylon Casinghino had four total saves.
• Hogan Cain had three saves for the Hawks, and Jack Avellar had one. 
• Roger Williams won the game, 3-1.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will return to Springfield for their next game. That game will be on Tuesday, October 10, at 4:00 PM. 
• The Hawks are back in action on Sunday, October 8, at 2:00 PM. They will head to Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, for their final non-conference game of the year.