SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 21, 2023) – The Western New England field hockey team remained without a blemish on their record on Thursday night, defeating the visiting Owls of Westfield State University by a final score of 3-0 from Golden Bear Stadium.

Records:

• Western New England: 7-0
• Westfield State University: 2-6

How it Happened:

An early goal sparked Western New England, as the Golden Bears would not look back from there. Analise Trani would register her first career goal with the Golden Beats on an assist from Carly-Anna Barba  as Western New England grabbed a 1-0 lead. Trani would be in the right place at the right time after Taya Buntin sent the ball from the top of the arc into the crease where Barba deflected the ball to Trani, who finished off her first career goal.  The WNE defense proved to be too much for the Owls, as Westfield State did not record a shot in the opening 15 minutes of play. Western New England took four shots in the period, putting just one on goal.

In the second quarter, Western New England would get back on the scoreboard when Haley Kaczka ripped home her third goal of the season. After WNE was awarded a penalty corner, Kaczka would collect the inserted ball, find space, and find the back of the net on a blistering shot, giving the Golden Bears a 2-0 lead. Westfield State would find their offensive game in the quarter, though GK Ella Henry would make two big saves for the Golden Bears, holding the Owls off the scoreboard. WNE would take a 2-0 lead after two quarters of play.

No goals would come in the third quarter; however, Western New England would take four penalty corners while Westfield State goalkeeper Paige Reisman made three saves on the Golden Bears to keep WNE off the scoreboard in the third.

Western New England would tally their final goal of the game in the fourth quarter when Sarah Johnston collected her team leading sixth goal of the season. Johnston would find space, dribble through thdefense,efense and slot a shot into the back of the net, giving the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead, a lead that was held for the remainder of the contest as Western New England would take the contest by a final score of 3-0.

Inside the Lines:

• WNE remains perfect on the season, moving to 7-0 on the year.
• Three different goal scorers would help the Golden Bears collect their seventh win of the season as Carly-Anna Barba, Haley Kaczka, and Sarah Johnston all recorded goals for the blue and gold.
• Ella Henry faced just three shots by the Owls offense, making all three saves.
• WNE was awarded 14 penalty corners in the contest, scoring the second goal of the night off one corner.
• WNE has now won six straight against the Owls and seven of the last eight contests.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE plays in their Go4TheGoal game on Saturday, September 23 at 1:00 PM when the University of Southern Maine travels to Springfield for the first time in program history.