Springfield, Mass. (October 2, 2024) – The Women's Soccer team hosted the Westfield State University Owls in a western Massachusetts showdown. Kyleigh Wheaton gave the Golden Bears a great start with a goal in the 9th minute of the game. However, Kiana Muratsuka equalized the game for the Owls with a free-kick goal in the 12th minute. Neither team was able to break the tie, and the teams finished the game in a 1-1 draw.

Records:

• Western New England: 5-1-5 (0-1-1)
• Westfield State University: 5-3-3 (2-0-0)

How it Happened:

Molly McLaughlin and Kayla Santucci started the game in goal for the Golden Bears and Owls, respectively. The Owls had a shot sixteen seconds into the game from Delaney Parker, which was saved by Malina LaCapra. That led to a corner kick, which then saw an Owls shot go over the net. The Golden Bears would turn the momentum and earn a corner kick in the 5th minute. That would not lead to a shot, but the corner kick in the 8th minute led to a shot, which was blocked out of bounds. That led to another WNE corner kick. That kick was sent in, and after the ball was sent from Stephanie McKenna to Kyleigh Wheaton, Wheaton sent a hard shot off the bottom of the right post and into the back of the net in the 9th minute. The Golden Bears led 1-0. The Owls would not dwell on the let-up goal. Instead, they battled and earned a free kick just outside the Golden Bear penalty box. Kiana Muratsuka took the free kick and sent the ball crashing into the bottom-right corner of the goal. The game was tied 1-1 in the 12th minute of play. The teams traded the ball and opportunities. Both had corner kicks and then the Golden Bears saw a shot get blocked in the 17th minute. They also had a shot go over the net in the 26th minute. The Owls started to possess the ball more in the later stages of the first half. That resulted in a blocked shot in the 31st minute and a shot in the 35th minute going wide left of the net. The teams continued to battle with both looking to get that second goal and take the lead.

WSU's Emily Ottomaniello would try to take advantage of that opportunity, and Molly McLaughlin made a save to keep the score square at one per side in the 38th minute. The 39th minute saw a WSU shot go over the net. The Owls ramped up the pressure at the end of the half with another shot on goal in the 43rd minute. Delaney Parker sent a shot at the lower-right corner of the goal. However, McLaughlin made the save. That was the final shot of the first half, and the stats showed WSU leading in shots 8-4 and shots on goal 4-1. The Golden Bears had more corner kicks 4-2, more saves 3-0, and more fouls 4-1. The score was tied 1-1 at the half.

The Owls started the second half with Katie Valentine in net for Kayla Santucci. The Golden Bears started the second half like the first. They had a shot go wide in the 47th minute. They would control possession and have another shot in the 52nd minute. However, the WSU defense blocked it. WSU would turn around the possession with a shot on goal, which McLaughlin was able to save in the 53rd minute. They also had a shot in the 55th minute. However, it was blocked out of bounds, leading to a corner kick. The Golden Bears would clear the ball and see a shot of their own get blocked in the 56th minute. The teams would trade shots in the ensuing moments of the game. Neither team could break the tie. The Golden Bears held on to the majority of the possession for a little while in the middle of the second half. They had a shot blocked in the 66th minute, but Westfield State would counter with a shot in the 69th minute. However, the ball went wide of the target. The teams kept trading shots until the Golden Bears had a couple in a row in the 76th minute. Lindsay Reidy had a shot saved by Valentine in the lower-right corner of the goal. Then, Reidy had a shot blocked. The Golden Bears had another shot in the 78th minute go wide. That is when WSU made a move for goal with three shots in a row in the 79th minute. Two shots were blocked, and the third missed wide left.

The 82nd minute saw Abby Free test Valentine, with a shot to the top-right corner. However, it was saved. Isabella Montalvo followed that up with a shot on goal in the 87th minute. It was saved by Valentine. The Golden Bears tried to break the tie again in the 88th minute. However, the shot went wide of the net. WSU had the final opportunities of the game, with a shot getting blocked in the 89th minute and a corner kick in the same minute. However, the Golden Bears stifled the opportunities, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. The final stats saw the Golden Bears leading in saves 4-3 and fouls 8-6. The Owls led in shots 17-16, shots on goal 5-4, and both teams had four corner kicks during the game.

Coach's Corner:

After the game, Coach Kristin Hensinger was asked what Hensinger thought the team did well and did not do well during today's game. "We got off to an early start, jumping out to a lead; I thought we had better movement tonight but still not creating enough quality chances in the final third. Westfield played well; it was a high-pace, physical game. Hopefully, we can carry the energy that we had tonight into the weekend," Hensinger stated.

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears hosted Westfield State University on Wednesday afternoon.
• 8:13 – Kyleigh Wheaton put the Golden Bears on the board with a goal assisted by Stephanie McKenna. The Golden Bears led 1-0.
• 11:50 – Kiana Muratsuka equalized the game for the Owls on a free-kick goal. The score was tied 1-1.
• The second half saw no goals scored.
• Katie Valentine made three saves and did not give up a goal. Kayla Santucci let up one goal.
• Molly McLaughlin made three saves and let up one goal.
• The Golden Bears and Owls tied 1-1.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE hits the road for their next conference game. They will be in Biddeford, Maine, on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 3:00 PM to take on the University of New England.
• Westfield State will travel to North Adams, Massachusetts, for their next MASCAC competition against MCLA on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 6:00 PM.