SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 28, 2024) The Western New England women's lacrosse team opened their 2024 season on the road, welcoming the reigning MASCAC champion Owls of Westfield State University to Golden Bear Stadium. Westfield State would score nine of the opening ten goals, while WNE would make things interesting late, though their slow offensive start would cost them a 17-12 defeat on opening day.

Records:

• Western New England: 0-1
• Westfield State University: 1-0

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears would see Westfield State take the first two goals of the game, with Natalie DeMaio scoring the opening goal of the season for the Owls, while Westfield's 60-goal scorer from a season ago, Emma Cretella, beat WNE goalkeeper Faith Graveline to the low corner of the net, giving Westfield a 2-0 lead. Ally Ferraro would light the lamp for the Golden Bears by picking up her first tally of the season and the first goal of the season for Western New England with 7:41 to play in the opening quarter, getting WNE back within a goal. From there, Westfield State would turn up the pressure, netting the final two goals of the quarter to go up 4-1 after the first 15 minutes of play. Westfield State outshot the Golden Bears 8-5 in the opening frame, while Western New England would have to chase the scoreboard early because of a costly nine turnovers.

Things would not turn into shape for the Golden Bears as Westfield State continued to be dominant on the offensive end of the ball while Western New England would turn the ball over, which led directly to goals from the Owls. Westfield State would score the first five goals of the second quarter, which gave the visitors a 9-1 lead. Graduate student Kylie Buchanan, a former member of Western New England, would score twice in the second for the Owls. Lyndsey Bunnell would tally her first as a Golden Bear, Western New England's lone goal of the quarter, on an assist from Ferraro, while a player up though, WNE would see Westfield State take a 10-2 lead at the break. In the second quarter, WNE turned the ball over 18 times despite winning 11 of 14 draw controls.

The Golden Bears would look to turn things around in the new half and would start off with the first goal of the half when Abbey Fracis rushed toward goal after picking up a pass from Mia Celentano and found the back of the net for the first time this season, picking up Western New England's third goal of the night. Emma Cretella would continue to find goal for the Owls, picking up her fourth, fifth, and sixth goals of the night in the frame, which gave Westfield State a 14-6 lead at the end of the third. WNE would see Mia Celentano and Emmy Burns score goals within 16 seconds of one another, though an additional five turnovers for the Golden Bears would hurt the home team. The Golden Bears would be outshot 10-7 in the frame, though would tie Westfield 4-4 in the score column.

Western New England would find their footing in the rainy fourth quarter despite giving up the first two goals of the final 15 minutes of play when Buchanan and Mollie Pacheco found goal. From there, Western New England would score six of the final seven goals of the game to build momentum. Abbey Francis, Mia Celentano, Emmy Burns, and Ally Ferraro would all contribute, while Celentano, Burns, and Ferraro would all grab their hat trick goals late in the fourth, though it would not be enough as the Owls of Westfield State would soar to a 17-12 victory over the Golden Bears.

Inside the Lines:

• Ally Ferraro and Mia Celentano led Western New England with four points each on the night, scoring three goals and picking up an assist. Ferraro took five total shots, placing three on goal, while Celenatno took five shots, hitting the target four times.
• Emmy Burns recorded three goals on six shots while scooping a ground ball and going 1/3 in free position shots.
• Fiona Dean came in relief of Faith Graveline, recording nine saves while giving up ten goals.
• Lyndsey Bunnell recorded her first collegiate goal with Western New England, finishing the night with a goal and an assist. Allie Cyr had one assist, also recording her first collegiate point.
• Emma Cretella led Westfield State with six goals and an assist, grabbing seven points on the night. Former Golden Bear Kylie Buchanan scored four goals.
• WNE turned the ball over 30 times on the night, though they won 25 of 33 draw controls, led by Mia Celentano, who had 11 wins for Western New England.
• Westfield State has now won seven straight over the Golden Bears.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will be on the road on Saturday, March 3, at 1:00 PM to take on Smith College in non-conference action.