Norton, Mass. (August 30, 2024) – The WNE Field Hockey team took to the field in Norton, Massachusetts to start their 2024 season. They faced off with the Lyons of Wheaton College. The Lyons scored a goal in each of the first three quarters in route to the win. Mackenna Cooke scored the lone goal of the game for the Golden Bears.

Records:

• Western New England: 0-1 (0-0)
• Wheaton College (Mass.): 1-0 (0-0)

How it Happened:

With Grace Ferguson and Ella Henry in goal for the Lyons and Golden Bears, respectively, the game got underway. Hannah Fortin wasted little time giving the Lyons their first lead of the 2024 season. Fortin got the pass from Delia Knox and scored to put the Lyons on the board, giving them the 1-0 lead. Kara Edwards tried to even the score up with a shot that was blocked. The play went back and forth for most of the beginning of the game. The teams were trying to get a feel for the game. Ally Slicer then had a shot saved by Henry with 5:34 remaining in the opening quarter. Delia Knox had a shot blocked, as well. Before the first quarter concluded, Mackenna Cooke had a shot nullified. At the end of the first quarter, total shots favored Wheaton 3-2, saves favored WNE 1-0, and fouls favored WNE 12-9. Neither team had a penalty corner.

The play went back and forth in the beginning of the second quarter. The Golden Bears then had three consecutive shots saved by Ferguson. Sarah Johnston had a shot about a minute later, which was blocked. The Golden Bears were getting more pressure on the Lyons. A penalty corner was given 4:20 into the second quarter. Analise Trani had a shot saved by Ferguson. Mackenna Cooke then had two shots saved by Ferguson. The Golden Bears kept applying pressure but could not get a goal. The ball would travel back and forth between the teams for much of the second. However, after a shot by Analise Trani was saved by Ferguson with 4:30 remaining in the opening half, Riley Levrault took a penalty corner for the Lyons. The ball went from Lydia Gaudreau to Maria Worden, who doubled the Lyons' lead. Sarah Johnston tried to give the Golden Bears life with a shot on goal. However, it was saved by the defender, Abby Miller. Then, Johnston took a penalty corner. Haley Kaczka got the ball and sent it at net. However, Ferguson made another save. The first half would finish after a Kayla Antonelli shot was blocked. The first-half stats showed WNE leading in shots 13-4 and penalty corners 3-1. Wheaton led in saves 9-1 and fouls 24-22.

The third quarter saw the Golden Bears return to the field determined to get their first goal of the season. They had three shots within the first two minutes of the second half. Ferguson had to make one save and did. Olyvia Whyte then took a penalty corner. Eventually, the ball got to Mackenna Cooke in front of the net, and Cooke sent it past Ferguson to cut the Lyons' lead to 2-1. The Golden Bears kept the pressure on with another penalty corner and a shot which went wide. Then, after some back-and-forth play from the two teams, the Lyons turned the pressure around on the Golden Bears. The Lyons had two shots saved by Henry, two penalty corners, and a shot saved by Gemma Kennedy before eventually getting their third goal of the game with 1:57 remaining in the third quarter. Ally Slicer had a penalty shot goal to make the score 3-1, Lyons. Slicer had one more shot before the quarter finished, but Henry saved it. The third-quarter stats saw the Golden Bears lead in saves 4-1 and fouls 13-8. Both teams had five shots and two penalty corners.

The final quarter saw Ferguson save a shot from Analise Trani 3:51 into it. The Golden Bears were trying to find another goal to cut the lead in half once again and get the momentum on their side. However, the Lyons and Grace Ferguson were not letting that happen. Riley Levrault had a shot saved by Henry. Then, the Lyons had a shot blocked shortly after. The Golden Bears would have penalty corners and then shots saved by Ferguson. They could not get that second goal. Eventually, the time would hit zero left in the game, and the Lyons would beat the Golden Bears 3-1. The final stats showed the Golden Bears leading in shots 21-11, shots on goal 13-9, and penalty corners 7-3. The Lyons had more saves 12-6 and fouls 45-44.

After the game, WNE coach, Kyle Lyons, was asked for a comment on the game. "It's always tough to drop the first game, obviously not the way we want to start our season. We need to clean things up in both the attacking and defensive end and play with more connection and composure in our circles," said Lyons. "Hoping the team can take some lessons from today's game and rebound for Wednesday."

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears traveled out to play Wheaton College in their first regular season game of the season.
• Hannah Fortin scored the opening goal 1:58 into the game. Delia Knox was credited with the assist.
• Maria Worden doubled the Lyons' lead with 3:45 left in the second quarter. Lydia Gaudreau had the assist.
• Mackenna Cooke cut the Lyons' lead in half with a goal 2:31 into the second half.
• Ally Slicer regained the two-goal lead for the Lyons with 1:57 remaining in the third quarter.
• Ella Henry made five saves and let up three goals.
• Grace Ferguson made eleven saves and gave up one goal in the win for the Lyons.
• The Golden Bears lost to the Lyons 3-1.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE returns to Springfield, Massachusetts, for their next contest. They will host the Wolves of Western Connecticut State University at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.
• Wheaton will stay at home for their next game against Worcester State University. That game will be on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at 7:00 PM.