Springfield, Mass. (September 18, 2024) – The men's soccer team played against Western Connecticut State University on Suprenant Field on Wednesday. Nicola Acocella opened the scoring for the Wolves in the 11th minute. That goal was followed up by two more for WCSU in the second half. One from Kadin Talho, and the other from Ian Mounts. The Golden Bears fell to the Wolves 3-0.

Records:

• Western New England: 2-4-2 (0-0-0)
• Western Connecticut State University: 3-2-1 (0-0-0)

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears started Braylon Casinghino in net, and the Wolves started Zachary Benson across the field from Casinghino. The Golden Bears looked to flip the script from the last few games. However, the Wolves started fast, with the first shot of the game in the 4th minute going wide of the net. Then, a corner kick in the 10th minute led to a Nicola Acocella header goal. Daniel Russo was able to find Acocella with the corner kick, and the Wolves led 1-0. The Wolves had two more shots after that, with Sam Riley making a save for the Golden Bears to keep the deficit at one. The Golden Bears had a shot go wide after that, in the 21st minute. The teams would battle it out for the next thirteen minutes. The teams moved the ball down the field but could not find any opportunities for a shot.

The 34th minute saw Shay O'Neill have a shot blocked. Then, Tyler Lewis had a shot just go over the crossbar in the 37th minute. The Golden Bears were finding some momentum. Then, in the 40th minute, Elliot Texeira tested Benson with a shot. However, Benson made the save. The Wolves had two corner kicks after that. However, no shots were taken despite the corner kick opportunities. The first half would end with the Golden Bears trailing the Wolves 1-0. The stat line at the half saw shots on goal favor the Wolves 2-1. Corner kicks and fouls also favored the Wolves 4-0 and 6-1, respectively. Saves were tied 1-1, and so were shots taken, 4-4.

The second half started with the Golden Bears building momentum and having the majority of the possession. Keegan Reim had a shot go wide. Then, Tyler Lewis had a shot saved by Benson. However, the Wolves would eventually put a stop to the Golden Bear's momentum and find themselves with another corner kick in the 56th minute. That led to the ball being popped into the air by the Golden Bears' defense and Kadin Talho sending a header shot past the WNE goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The Wolves led 2-0. The Wolves would not stop pressuring the Golden Bears. They had two shots and two corner kicks in just about two minutes. Kamal Sabar had a shot saved by Casinghino in the bottom left corner of the goal. The Golden Bears tried to muster an opportunity and cut the lead in half to get back into the game. Hunter Perry had a shot saved in the bottom right corner of the goal in the 69th minute. Jack Leland also had a shot in the 70th minute. However, it went wide. The Wolves responded with more and more pressure. A corner kick in the 71st minute led to a shot by Romario Bunjaj being saved. Ian Mounts received the rebound and sent another shot at goal, which Casinghino made another save on. However, Mounts would receive that rebound as well and net the third Wolves' goal. WCSU led 3-0.

The Golden Bears would make changes to their lineup and try to send the ball into their attacking half more. However, no major opportunities arose right away. The 78th minute saw Roger Leland send a shot into the bottom left corner of the net. Benson made the save. The teams traded the ball back and forth with no major opportunities arising. Michael Arcuri would enter the game in goal for WCSU in the 85th minute for Zachary Benson. Arcuri was immediately tested in the 87th minute. Hunter Perry sent a shot at Arcuri, which was saved. Then, after a corner kick from the Wolves, the game would conclude. The Golden Bears fell to the Wolves 3-0. The final stat line showed the Wolves leading in shots on goal 7-5, saves 5-4, corner kicks 10-2, and fouls 13-5. Both teams had ten shots.

Coach's Corner

Head coach Devin O'Neill was asked for a comment on the tough game afterward. "Very impressed by WestConn. (WestConn's) a really good team. We knew they would be," O'Neill stated. "Biggest disappointment is to concede three restart goals. That's just a losing formula. (We) cannot do that and have any chance of success. That's gotta get better." "There were some things that were decent." Coach was asked how O'Neill would get the team ready for their conference game against Roger Williams University on Saturday. "We'll just have to come back tomorrow and try to put some things right that were wrong," O'Neill mentioned.

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears hosted the Wolves of Western Connecticut State University on Wednesday.
• Nicola Acocella netted the game's first goal. Daniel Russo assisted Acocella to give the Wolves a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute.
• Kadin Talho netted the Wolves' second goal. It was an unassisted goal in the 57th minute to make the score 2-0.
• Ian Mounts tripled the lead for the Wolves in the 72nd minute on an unassisted goal to make the score 3-0.
• Braylon Casinghino made three saves and let up three goals.
• Zachary Benson made four saves, and Michael Arcuri made one save to earn the Wolves a shutout victory.
• The Wolves beat the Golden Bears 3-0.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will start their conference play on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 2:30 PM, when they host Roger Williams University.
• WCSU will travel to Keene, N.H., for their first LEC game of the season against Keene State College on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 1:00 PM.