Springfield, Mass. (September 6, 2023) - The Women's Soccer Team hosted cross-town rival Springfield College in a battle in the sweltering heat. Both teams were coming off non-conference wins and looking to keep their winning ways. However, even with both teams having major chances for a goal throughout the game, neither team could net a goal, and the game ended in a 0-0 tie.

Records:

• Western New England: 1-0-1 (0-0-0)
• Springfield College: 1-0-1 (0-0-0)

How it Happened:

Molly McLaughlin and Taryn Ryan started in net for WNE and Springfield, respectively. The teams moved the game's start time back an hour to try to play in cooler weather. Once five o'clock rolled around, the teams kicked off the game. The teams played back and forth for the first four minutes of play. Then, Springfield started to get settled and got a shot off in the 5th and 9th minutes from Kayla McGrath and Kaitlyn Suller. However, the first shot was blocked, and the send was left of the net. The 11th minute also saw Springfield's McGrath miss a shot to the left of the net. Springfield kept winning possession and turning the possession into a shot, but the ball was not on net yet. The 13th and 16th minutes saw two more shots go wide by Springfield. WNE tried their best to clear the ball, but Springfield kept the pressure on. After a shot was blocked in the 21st minute, a shot by Springfield's Jen Walker was low and to the right of McLaughlin, but McLaughlin made the save. The 23rd minute saw McLaughlin have to make another save. This time, it was Kayla McGrath with the shot on goal.

In the 26th minute, WNE burst to life with a shot by Gabby Sansone. However, it was missed high and to the left of the goal. Malina LaCapra got the Golden Bears on the stat sheet with a shot on goal in the 28th minute. It was saved by Ryan. Alison Goodreau missed a shot high for WNE in the 31st minute, and WNE was getting into the game. The ball would go back and forth from team to team for the final 14 minutes of play, with both teams making runs, but no shots were sent in the direction of the net. At the break, Springfield was ahead on shots (8-3), fouls (2-1), and corners (1-0). WNE was ahead on saves (2-1). The score was still knotted at zero.

Out of the break, both teams settled back into the game, and it was Springfield's Natalie Moturra who took the first shot of the second half, but it sailed high of the net. Kaitlyn Suller would also go for goal, but the ball was blocked before getting to McLaughlin. The 51st minute saw a shot by Jen Walker get blocked, but the rebound would settle for Walker, and a second shot was put to the right of the net. WNE would start gaining more possession and pressure Springfield more and more. Springfield answered with a shot in the 57th minute by McGrath, but it went high and to the left of the net. Walker had another shot for Springfield in the 59th minute. However, it did not get to McLaughlin. The ball would stay in the middle 50% of the field for the next few minutes, but Springfield would open the shots up again with two in the 66th minute by Suller and Sadie Crozer.

Suller had a shot in the 68th minute to the goal's left side. However, McLaughlin made the save. Julianna DaCosta would shoot the ball next for Springfield, but McLaughlin did not have to worry about it too much as it went wide of the net. Kristina Kyle was the next to go for a goal for Springfield. McLaughlin parried away a shot in the 69th minute. However, Kyle had another opportunity and sent the ball at McLaughlin again. However, McLaughlin made another save to keep the score tied. Springfield knocked on the door for a goal, but McLaughlin and the WNE defense were not letting up. Mu Kue tried to test McLaughlin for a goal, but that shot sailed above the net.

The ball was put back into play by WNE, but Springfield kept the pressure on with a shot from Madison Daly that went right of the net. The 79th minute saw Crozer go for a goal, but the shot was blocked. Springfield was trying everything, but WNE would not let up. McGrath tried to break the tie, but McLaughlin was in the right position and made the save on the right side of the net. The 86th minute was the best chance for WNE. Brynn Murphy got a pass and turned around the defender. Murphy ran down the field's right side and then toward the goal. Murphy sent a shot across the goal on the right side of the Springfield penalty box, but it went wide of the net. That would be the last major chance for both teams, and the game would end in a 0-0 draw. The final stat sheet showed 24 shots from Springfield and four from WNE. Springfield had six shots on goal, all saved by McLaughlin. WNE had one shot on goal, and Ryan made the save. WNE ended with nine fouls, and Springfield had eight. Finally, Springfield had four corners, and WNE had one. It was a hard-fought battle from both sides, but it would end with a 0-0 tie. 

Inside the Lines:

• WNE hosted Springfield in a cross-town battle at Suprenant Field.
• Molly McLaughlin made six saves.
• Taryn Ryan made one save.
• Springfield had 24 shots, and WNE had four.
• The game ended in a 0-0 tie.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will finish their three-game home stretch with a game on Saturday, September 9, at noon as they host Fitchburg State University.
• Springfield moves on to play Western Connecticut State University on Saturday, September 9, at 3:30 PM in Farmingdale.