Danbury, Conn. (August 31, 2024) – WNE traveled back to Danbury, Connecticut, for their second of two games in the Western Connecticut Invitational. They took on the hosts, the Western Connecticut State University Wolves. The Wolves pressured the Golden Bears for the majority of the game and scored an 82nd-minute penalty kick goal to take a late lead. However, Liza Pinette's left-footed curling shot found the top-left corner of the goal in the 88th minute to allow the Golden Bears to tie the Wolves 1-1.

Records:

• Western New England: 1-0-1 (0-0-0)
• Western Connecticut State University: 1-0-1 (0-0-0)

How it Happened:

The Wolves and Golden Bears both entered the game with a record of 1-0-0. Both teams got opening day wins in Danbury the day before. Molly McLaughlin led the Golden Bears in net, while the Wolves started Ashlyn Flood in net. The Wolves had the offensive pressure early with a corner, a blocked shot, and a shot by Suzana Imetovski, which was saved by McLaughlin, all within the first 6:15 of play. The Golden Bears would collect the ball and push it toward the other end of the pitch during the next few minutes. However, the Wolves would counter with a run back towards McLaughlin, and Imetovski got another shot on the WNE goalie from the left end line. The next nine minutes saw back-and-forth action, with both teams trying to find the first goal of the game. The Wolves would then fire two shots in the direction of the net. The first was blocked by the WNE defense. The second went wide right. Imetovski followed that shot up with another, which forced McLaughlin to make a save. The Golden Bears would eventually get their first shot of the game in the 34th minute. Lindsay Reidy looked to get a third goal in two games with the opening shot. However, Flood made the save. The Wolves would answer with a long free-kick shot by Sophia Onek, which made McLaughlin have to dive to the right to make the big save. The ball was pushed away to another WCSU player, who sent a shot wide of the net. The Golden Bears would not shy away from the fight, though. They would push down the field once again and have a shot blocked. Both teams would trade the ball back and forth for the rest of the first half, and the game would stay at 0-0 going into halftime. The first-half stats showed shots in favor of the Wolves 8-2 and shots on goal in favor of WCSU 4-1. The Wolves also led in corner kicks 3-0 and fouls 8-6. The Golden Bears led in saves 4-1.

The Wolves kicked off the second half. The beginning of the second was very similar to the first half. Both teams traded the ball back and forth. However, the Wolves applied more pressure. WCSU would have a free kick that Onek took and shot at goal. However, McLaughlin made another save. The Golden Bears countered quickly, and it led to a shot going over the crossbar from Liza Pinette. The 61st minute saw the Wolves with another attempt within the Golden Bears' penalty box. Hannah Blacher sent a hard shot just high of the crossbar and the WNE goalie. In the 65th minute, the Wolves had a breakaway opportunity. However, McLaughlin left the goalline and dove out to make the WCSU player veer away from the goal and out of bounds. That kept the game tied at zero almost halfway through the second half. The Wolves did not falter, though. They returned to the Golden Bear goal, and Imetovski sent another shot at McLaughlin. It was saved in the 70th minute. The 72nd minute saw another shot from Imetovski saved by McLaughlin. Then, Onek had a shot go off the post in the 77th minute. The Wolves kept increasing their pressure and had two shots in the 80th minute. The first was from Onek and was saved by McLaughlin. The second was blocked before it got to McLaughlin. The 82nd minute saw the Wolves' pressure finally give them the lead. The Golden Bears were called for a foul in the penalty box, which resulted in a penalty kick goal from Sophia Onek. The Wolves led 1-0 late in the game. The Golden Bears tried to find a late goal, but the Wolves kept a lot of the possession after the goal. Then, in the 88th minute, Liza Pinette dribbled down the right side of the pitch. Pinette then turned in towards the middle of the field and switched the ball to the left foot at the top of the penalty box. Pinette then delivered a curling shot that curled from left to right and into the top left corner of the goal. The Golden Bears had equalized the score at 1-1. That is how the game would end. The Golden Bears captured a tie after a Liza Pinette last-minute goal. The final stats showed the Wolves lead in shots 16-4, shots on goal 9-2, and corner kicks 4-1. The Golden Bears had more fouls 12-11 and saves 8-1.

WNE Women's Soccer coach Kristin Hensinger and goal-scorer Liza Pinette were interviewed after the game. Hensinger was asked what Hensinger thought the key was to the goal from Liza Pinette. "Our team finally started pushing forward; Liza made a great run and had composure in waiting to read the defender; once she saw she had a gap, she didn't hesitate. It was a fantastic shot. We couldn't have drawn it up any better than that," Hensinger stated. Hensinger was also asked what the message was to the team, with WCSU applying a lot of pressure and not giving up much in the defensive half. "The message was to push through mentally. We talked about toughness through fatigue and never letting up. Our legs were definitely heavy tonight, with having played yesterday. It was a quick turnaround, with less rest than our opponent. It is something we need to get better at if we want to make a push in the playoffs."

Liza Pinette, who scored the equalizer in the 88th minute, was asked what was going through Pinette's mind during the play, and once Pinette saw the ball hit the back of the net. "I took it to my left when I saw space, as soon as the defender stepped back I knew I could take more space without her interfering with a shot. Once the shot left my foot, I felt like the ball traveled in slow motion until it hit the back of the net. When it went in, I felt like I was going to cry (happy tears)," Pinette commented.

Inside the Lines:

• The Wolves hosted the Golden Bears in both teams' second game of the Western Connecticut State Invitational.
• The first half saw both defenses and goalies keep the other team scoreless.
• Sophia Onek gave the Wolves the lead in the 82nd minute with a penalty kick goal. WCSU led 1-0.
• Liza Pinette equalized the game at 1-1 with an 88th-minute goal.
• Ashlyn Flood made one save and let up one goal.
• Molly McLaughlin made eight saves and let up one goal.
• The Golden Bears and Wolves tied 1-1.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will return to Springfield, MA, for their next game. However, it will be across town at Springfield College on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at 7:00 PM.
• The Wolves will travel to South Hadley, MA, for their next game. They will take on Mount Holyoke College on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at 6:00 PM.