Springfield, Mass. (September 16, 2023) - The Golden Bears welcomed the Colonels to town for the season's first conference game. Both teams had opportunities throughout the game. However, after a hard-fought game, the final score was 0-0, with neither team being able to gain a goal.

Records:

• Western New England: 0-3-3 (0-0-1)
• Curry College: 2-1-2 (0-0-1)

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears took the field with Ryan Suprin as the goalkeeper. Brendan Cunningham was in net on the other side of the pitch for the Colonels. The Golden Bears started the game quickly, with AJ Quiterio shooting the ball high of the crossbar. Matt Spruill then sent a shot at Cunningham, but it was saved. Roger Leland had a shot blocked in the 6th minute. Leland then had a shot in the 9th minute saved by Cunningham. Right after that, Dom Bugnacki sent a shot wide of the net. The Golden Bears were getting pressure on the Colonels early. That continued in the 17th minute, with Bugnacki striking the post. The 18th minute saw the Colonels gain some ground, and Adam Pforr got a shot off, but it went wide right. Shay O'Neill sent a shot high of the net in the 21st minute. That was followed up by Johnny Clough in the 28th minute. Clough sent the ball wide left of the net. Lanzillo sent the ball above the net after that. Bugnacki had another chance in the 29th minute. However, Cunningham was there for another save. Giovanni Martins had a shot blocked in the 38th minute for Curry. The Golden Bears would respond with shots from Jake Thibodeau and Mike Milazzo. However, Thibodeau's shot went right of the net, and Milazzo's shot was blocked. Hunter Perry had the last chance of the first half, but his shot went wide right of the net. The first half ended with the teams tied at 0-0. WNE had 13 shots in the first half. Curry had two. Cunningham made three saves for the Colonels. WNE led in corners 5-2, and Curry had more fouls, 5-4. 

The second half started with the Golden Bears going for goal quickly. Milazzo quickly had a shot go wide right of the net. That was followed by Thibodeau sending a shot at Cunningham, who was able to make the save and keep the game level. Shay O'Neill sent a shot high of the crossbar in the 57th minute. O'Neill also went wide right of the goal in the 61st minute. The 70th minute saw Curry's Richard Savage send a shot high of the net. WNE responded with a shot by Clough that Cunningham had to save. Bugnacki also tried to get the ball past Cunningham, but Cunningham made the save there, too.

The Golden Bears kept generating pressure, hoping for the breakthrough goal. Lucas Drons sent a shot at the net in the 75th minute for Curry, but it was blocked. Martins had a shot blocked, as well, in the 80th minute. Connor McCann had a shot blocked in the 82nd minute. It was followed by Pforr sending a shot to the right of the goal. Shay O'Neill had a shot in the 86th minute that Cunningham made the save on. That was followed by Sean Lanzillo sending a shot toward the net. The shot caught the crossbar, though. O'Neill tried again later that minute, but it went left of the net. Curry's JD Santiago had the final chance of the game. Santiago took a free kick right outside the WNE penalty box. The shot went left of the net and out of bounds. The final horn would sound soon after as the Golden Bears and Colonels finished the game tied 0-0. The final stat line showed the Golden Bears ahead in shots (22-9), shots on goal (7-0), corner kicks (8-5), and fouls (13-10). Brendan Cunningham had seven saves for Curry. 

Inside the Lines:

• WNE hosted Curry College for the start of conference play.
• Neither team scored a goal.
• Brendan Cunningham had seven saves for Curry.
• Ryan Suprin did not have to make a save for the Golden Bears.
• The Golden Bears and Colonels tied 0-0.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will head to Danbury, Connecticut, to play the Wolves of Western Connecticut State University. That game will be played on Tuesday, September 19, at 6:00 PM.
• The Colonels will return home for their next game as they host the Fitchburg State University Falcons on Tuesday, September 19, at 7:00 PM.