Springfield, Mass. (September 24, 2024) – The Golden Bears welcomed the Camels of Connecticut College to Springfield for a nonconference showdown. The Camels would strike first with a goal from Matt Scoffone. Keegan Reim equalized on a free-kick goal a couple of minutes later. After the half, Marco Perugini and Matt Scoffone netted a goal each to give the Camels the 3-1 win.

Records:

• Western New England: 2-6-2 (0-1-0)
• Connecticut College: 4-1-2 (1-1-2)

How it Happened:

 Braylon Casinghino and Peter Silvester anchored the teams in net for the Golden Bears and Camels, respectively. The Camels started the game with energy. They would take the game's first shot. However, the Golden Bear defense was there for the block in the 4th minute. The Camels had another shot sail high of the goal in the 6th minute. The Golden Bears then swung the momentum in their favor. They gained more possession of the ball, and it led to a 9th-minute shot going over the goal. Then, Mike Milazzo had a shot saved by Silvester in the 10th minute. The Golden Bears kept the pressure on with a shot blocked in the 11th minute. Then, the Camels made a run at the WNE goal and had a shot go high and wide right. The Golden Bears answered with two shots. One of them was saved by Silvester in the 17th minute. The Camels would start to fight back with a shot that was off-target. Then, Christian Perugini slid a crossing pass across the face of the goal to Matt Scoffone on the right side of the WNE goal. Scoffone sent the ball back across the goal and into the bottom left corner. It was 1-0 Camels in the 26th minute.

The Golden Bears did not hesitate. They pressured the Camels even more and earned a free kick on the edge of the penalty box. Keegan Reim took the free kick and sent a shot which bounced just off the wall in front of Reim and into the back of the net. The Golden Bears equalized the game at 1-1 in the 28th minute. The teams traded a few shots for the next ten minutes. Tyler Lewis had the only shot on goal during that time frame. Silvester made the save. Casinghino then made a save on Elliot Spatz, who sent a shot at the goal. The Golden Bears had the final four shots of the first half. However, none of them tested Silvester in net. The score was tied 1-1 at the half. WNE led in shots 11-8, shots on goal 4-2, and fouls 4-3. The Camels led in saves 3-1, and both teams had one corner kick each.

The second half saw the Camels take control of most of the possession. They entered the second half energized, and it showed through a 51st-minute shot, which was blocked. Then, a 52nd-minute goal saw Marco Perugini dribble the ball into the penalty box on a counterattack. Perugini found an angle and sent the ball crashing into the back of the net to give the Camels the 2-1 lead. They did not let up. They had six shots in around five minutes of play. The last two tested Casinghino. Casinghino saved the first shot from Christian Perugini. However, the second shot would find the back of the net. Marco Perugini found Matt Scoffone with a through pass. Scoffone sent the ball into the back of the net, and the Camels led 3-1 in the 61st minute.

The Camels kept applying pressure. Jake Creus had a shot saved by Casinghino in the 62nd minute. The teams went back and forth for a little while before a 70th-minute shot from Marco Perugini had to be saved by Casinghino. The Camels had four more shots in a row after that. Elliot Spatz made Casinghino make a save. Brandon Lewis cut into the shots from the Camels with a shot that went over the goal. Then, Keegan Reim had a shot saved by Silvester in the 79th minute. The teams would trade the ball back and forth for the rest of the game. Both teams had one more shot each. However, neither shot tested either goalie, and the Camels beat the Golden Bears 3-1. The Camels led at the end of the game in shots 23-14, shots on goal 8-5, corner kicks 4-2, and fouls 16-13. The Golden Bears led 5-4 in saves.

Coach's Corner

After being asked for O'Neill's thoughts after the game, head coach Devin O'Neill stated, "(Connecticut College) was a very good team and posed some real tactical problems. I want to watch the film. (The game was) kind of a tale of two halves. We were very good in the first half, and they exposed a problem and created a lot of problems for us in the second half. I thought the kids battled really hard." O'Neill was then asked for O'Neill's thoughts on their upcoming conference matchup with Gordon College on Saturday. "(The game) is gonna be a real tough test, and we gotta get healthy, a few of us are sick right now, and just get ready to battle on Saturday," O'Neill mentioned.

Inside the Lines:

• WNE welcomed the Connecticut College Camels to town on Tuesday.
• 25:35 – Matt Scoffone found the back of the net on Christian Perugini's assist to open the scoring. The Camels led 1-0.
• 27:28 – Keegan Reim scored the Golden Bears' opening goal with a free-kick goal. The score was tied 1-1.
• 51:36 – Marco Perugini gave the Camels the lead back with an unassisted goal. The Camels led 2-1.
• 60:45 – Matt Scoffone doubled the Camels' lead with a goal assisted by Marco Perugini. The Camels led 3-1.
• Braylon Casinghino made five saves and let up three goals.
• Peter Silvester made four saves and let up one goal in the Camels' win.
• The Camels beat the Golden Bears 3-1.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will begin a three-game road trip with a CNE game on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 7:00 PM against Gordon College.
• Connecticut College plays their final road game of their four-game road trip on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at Middlebury College. That game is slated for a noon kickoff.