Wenham, Mass. (September 28, 2024) – The Golden Bears were in Wenham, Massachusetts, for a conference clash with Gordon College on Saturday. Gordon would score in the 32nd minute and would not look back. They scored two more goals in the second half on route to a 3-0 conference victory over the Golden Bears.

Records:

• Western New England: 5-1-4 (0-1-1)
• Gordon College: 5-2-1 (2-0-0)

How it Happened:

Molly McLaughlin and Emily Bengston were named the starting goalies for the conference clash. WNE had the quick start with a shot from Lindsay Reidy that Bengston saved. Gordon would find their footing with a corner kick in the 5th minute and three shots in a row between the 8th and 12th minutes. McLaughlin had to make two saves and did. Ava Forbes-Smith and Allie Larue had the shots on goal. That would be followed by a Gordon corner, and they had all the momentum. They had two shots in the 19th minute. McLaughlin had to save one shot from Ada Forbes. The Golden Bears tried to swing the momentum in the 27th minute. Lindsay Reidy had a shot saved by Bengston. Gordon would not be phased. They had a shot blocked in the 31st minute. It was followed by a shot being blocked in the 32nd minute. Then, after the blocked shot, Nina Ruiz passed the ball to Ada Forbes, who got the Fighting Scots on the board. They led 1-0. The Golden Bears responded with a Kyleigh Wheaton shot, which Bengston saved. Gordon countered with a corner kick, leading to a header shot going over the crossbar in the 39th minute. That was the final major opportunity for either team in the first half. The box score showed Gordon College leading in shots 9-3, shots on goal 4-3, and corner kicks 4-1. The Golden Bears led in fouls 4-3, and both teams had three saves. Gordon led 1-0 at the break.

The second half saw Gordon College carry over the first-half momentum into the second half. They had a shot go over the crossbar at the beginning of the 47th minute. Then, Kristi Dirico found Ava Forbes-Smith in front of goal. Forbes-Smith would receive the ball and send it crashing into the back of the WNE goal to double the Gordon lead to 2-0. The teams traded the ball back and forth until the 53rd minute, when Eowyn Lapp would take the ball toward goal and would slot it into the back of the net. The Fighting Scots led the Golden Bears 3-0. The Golden Bears looked to answer the Fighting Scots after that. Shots from Stephanie McKenna and Liza Pinette did not reach Bengston. Eowyn Lapp would then have shots in the 58th and 61st minutes saved by McLaughlin. The Golden Bears would earn a corner kick in the 64th minute but could not net a goal after it. The 67th and 68th minutes saw shots from WNE not worry Bengston. The Golden Bears were finding openings but could not find the back of the net. Rachel Mincone had a chance to put the Fighting Scots up by four. However, McLaughlin made the save in the 75th minute. McLaughlin made another save in the 78th minute to keep the Golden Bears' deficit to three. The final opportunity of the game was from Madeline McNeilly. That shot was saved by McLaughlin in the 83rd minute. Soon after, the game finished. The final stat line saw the Fighting Scots leading in shots 17-7, shots on goal 11-3, corner kicks 5-3, and fouls 9-6. The Golden Bears had more saves, 8-3. The final score was 3-0, Gordon College.

Coach's Corner:

After the game, Coach Hensinger was asked for a comment on the game. "They were a good team and finished their chances. We just didn't capitalize on ours," Hensinger noted.

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears took on Gordon College in a conference showdown on Saturday.
• 31:23 – Ada Forbes scored for the Fighting Scots. Nina Ruiz was credited with the assist. Gordon led 1-0.
• 46:53 – Ava Forbes-Smith doubled the lead for Gordon. Kristi Dirico assisted that goal. Gordon led 2-0.
• 52:13 – Eowyn Lapp tripled the Gordon College lead. The unassisted goal made the score 3-0 Gordon.
• Molly McLaughlin made eight saves and let up three goals.
• Emily Bengston made three saves and earned the Fighting Scots a shutout victory.
• Gordon beat WNE 3-0.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE is back home for their next game. They welcome western Massachusetts foes, Westfield State University, to campus. That game is on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 4:00 PM.
• Gordon will welcome Bridgewater State University to Wenham, MA, for their next game. They take on the Bears on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 6:30 PM.