SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 16, 2024) – The Western New England women's lacrosse team took a 7-4 lead into the halftime break but saw the visiting Hawks of the University of Hartford come away with 12 of the 15 goals in the second half, including a 7-1 advantage in the third quarter, to take down the Golden Bears by a final score of 15-10.

Records:

• Western New England: 5–9
• University of Hartford: 7–6

How it Happened:
H
artford got started early in the contest when Meghan Smith was on the board for the Hawks, giving Hartford a 1-0 lead just 1:23 into the contest. Western New England would come away with the next goal of the game when Mariella Biceglia notched the first of the game from Western New England, tying the score at one. Western New England would have opportunities to collect shots on goal, though Biceglia, Ella Henry, and Ally Ferraro would all be denied by Hartford's goalkeeper, Hannah Ramsey. With just 32 seconds to play in the first quarter, Hartford would be back on the scoreboard as Lenaijah Ferguson would get on the scoresheet for the Hawks. Western New England would win the ensuing draw control and would score with just one second to play in the quarter as Emmy Burns would feed Ally Ferraro for a goal, sending the score to 2-2 after one quarter. WNE took 15 shots in the first to Hartford's five, while Ramsey made eight saves in the frame. Riley Franzo would come away with three saves for Western New England.

The Golden Bears would have their best offensive quarter of the game in the second quarter, outscoring Hartford 5-1 in the frame. Emmy Burns grabbed the first goal of the quarter for Western New England, her first goal of the afternoon, giving the Golden Bears their first lead of the game. Western New England would score the first five goals of the quarter as Mia Celentano, Allie Cyr, and Ella Henry (2) would give the Golden Bears a 7-2 lead with 2:57 to play in the contest. Hartford would end the second quarter with a goal with 27 seconds remaining to build some momentum for the second half, as WNE would take a 7-3 lead at the end of the half. Western New England outshot the Hawks 14-6 in the quarter, while WNE scooped a team-best nine ground balls in the frame.

Hartford would turn up the pressure in the second half and would quickly burry the first three goals of the quarter to get within one goal of the lead less than five minutes into the quarter. Three different goal scorers for Hartford would lead the way, as Hartford would trail 7-6 with still ten minutes left in the third quarter. Mia Celentano would break the hot streak out of the gates of the third quarter for Hartford, getting a pass from Ally Ferraro and finding the back of the net for the second time in the contest, giving WNE an 8-6 lead. The Hawks would waste little time putting together another scoring run, this time coming away with the lead 10-8 after three quarters of play. Western New England would be burned with five turnovers in the quarter while being outshot 10-5 by Hartford in the frame.

Four early goals in the fourth quarter for the Hawks would give Hartford their biggest lead of the contest, as the Hawks took a six-goal lead, 14-8, with ten minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Western New England would find the back of the net with two goals in the final four minutes of the game, with Mia Celentano and Lyndsey Bunnell coming away with the last two goals of the game for the Golden Bears, though it would not be enough as the Hawks would use their third quarter runs to race by WNE, defeating Western New England by a final score of 15-10.

Inside the Lines:

• After leading by four goals at the half, Western New England saw Hartford outscore the Golden Bears 12-3 in the second half to come away with a 15-10 victory.
• WNE outshot Hartford 42-26 in the contest.
• Mia Celentano scored three goals while picking up an assist to lead the Golden Bears in scoring.
• Hartford beat Western New England in draw controls on Tuesday, 14-12.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will take on UNE on Saturday, April 20 at 1:00 PM on senior day.