Springfield, Mass. (September 6, 2024) – The WNE men's soccer team hosted the Owls of Westfield State University in a western Massachusetts clash. The Golden Bears opened the game with two goals in the first five minutes and would not be stopped from there on. They scored one more in the first half to lead 3-0 at the half. Then, both teams would net two goals in the second half to make the final score 5-2. Tyler Lewis netted two goals, including Lewis' first career Golden Bear goal. Elliot Texeira also netted a first career Golden Bear goal in the win.

Records:

• Western New England: 2-1-1 (0-0-0)
• Westfield State University: 2-2-0 (0-0-0)

How it Happened:

With Braylon Casinghino in net for the Golden Bears and Luke Theroux in net for the Owls, Friday's match began. The Golden Bears started the game with a lot of pressure, and it did not take long for them to find the back of the net. Tyler Lewis netted a first career Golden Bear goal in the 4th minute off a great centering pass from Jacob Dounetos, who sent the ball from the left side of the field to the right side of the net, where Lewis sent a header shot into the net. Less than a minute later, Mike Milazzo would pressure the goalkeeper and create a turnover, which Milazzo deflected back at the goal to double the Golden Bear lead. The Owls would settle into the game after that with a shot from Nicholas Parakilas. Shay O'Neill would then send a shot off the crossbar before tripling the Golden Bear lead in the 11th minute. O'Neill netted an unassisted goal, which would bounce from a WSU player to O'Neill, who sent a right-footed shot into the back of the net. The ball would be traded from team to team after that. The Golden Bears would possess more of the ball than the Owls. However, that did not stop the Owls from having a shot. However, it sailed over the net. The Golden Bears had one shot go to the left of the goal, too. The Owls had a shot go wide before getting their first shot on goal of the game in the 23rd minute. Matias Otero sent a shot at Casinghino, who made the save in the bottom right corner of the goal. WNE would then take four shots in the next five minutes of game time. None of them would reach the net. Both teams traded the ball back and forth. However, again, the Golden Bears were able to control most of the possession. They had two more shots, which did not reach Theroux in the 39th and 40th minutes. Then, WNE had one last shot in the 45th minute, which did not make Theroux make a save, and the first half would end. After the first half ended, the stat line showed the Golden Bears leading in shots 13-4, shots on goal 3-1, saves 1-0, and corner kicks 3-1. The Owls led in fouls 8-4. The score at the half was 3-0 Golden Bears.

The second half saw both teams get possession early, and both tried to make something happen to get the next goal of the game. Nicholas Parakilas was the first one to get a shot on goal from either team in the second half. However, Casinghino made the save to keep the Golden Bears ahead by three. The Golden Bears tried to respond with a shot on goal. However, the shot slid wide of the goal. Both teams would trade the ball back and forth again. Neither team could find a goal-scoring opportunity until the 67th minute. Jake Thibodeau had the ball on the right side of the field and crossed it into the penalty box just before the ball went out of bounds. Tyler Lewis popped the ball up in the air towards the right side of goal. Mike Milazzo would send the ball back to Lewis, who was on the middle-left side of the goal. Lewis sent the ball into the back of the net with the left foot, and the Golden Bears led 4-0. The 70th minute saw the Golden Bears on the attack again. Mike Milazzo would find Elliot Texeira with a nice pass. Texeira was able to play the ball from Milazzo and send it right into the back of the net. The ball crashed into the netting to signify Texeira's first career Golden Bear goal. The Golden Bears continued applying pressure, with another shot getting blocked on a free kick. Then, after some more back-and-forth play, Matias Otero found the back of the Golden Bear net to help the Owls cut the WNE lead to 5-1 in the 76th minute. Otero had a free kick on the right side of the field from some distance. Otero sent a curling shot at the top left corner of the net. Casinghino got a hand on the ball but could not deflect it too much, so the ball found the netting. Connor Knowlton tried to give the Golden Bears the five-goal lead back, but Theroux made the save. Carson Moccio sent a shot at Casinghino in the 85th minute, trying to cut the lead down even more. However, Casinghino made the save. Casinghino made another save in the 89th minute on a shot from Miguel Fortich. However, the ball would fall back to Fortich, who sent the second shot into the back of the net to cut the WNE lead to 5-2. The game would end shortly after, with the Golden Bears securing the win, 5-2. The final stat line saw the Golden Bears leading in shots 20-9, shots on goal 8-6, saves 4-3, and corner kicks 6-1. The Owls had more fouls, 21-15.

Golden Bears head coach Devin O'Neill was interviewed at the conclusion of the game. O'Neill was asked about the performance put forward by the WNE team in their 5-2 victory. "I was very concerned about the dynamism of Westfield. (O'Neill) thought it would be a good challenge, and it was. I don't think the score reflects it. I was happy about two things: We made a commitment to get some pressure from the front that paid some dividends. Especially early in the game. We also talked about being a better team on the ball and taking a less direct path if the forward option was not on. I thought we moved the ball pretty well today, so two objectives met, so (O'Neill was) happy about that," O'Neill replied. Tyler Lewis, who scored twice, including a first-career Golden Bear goal, was asked about what was different about today and what was going through Lewis' mind during the two goals. "The first goal was amazing, (the goal) came early, (it) came from a great ball from Jacob (Dounetos). It was a surreal feeling to get my first goal. It didn't even feel real," noted Lewis. "The second goal was great. (It was a) great play, great header back from Mike, and it was a great team performance to get those two goals."

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears took on the Owls of Westfield State University at Suprenant Field on Friday.
• Tyler Lewis scored the game's first goal in the 4th minute to give the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. Jacob Dounetos was credited with the assist.
• Mike Milazzo netted the second goal in the 5th minute. It was unassisted and made the game 2-0, WNE.
• Shay O'Neill scored in the 11th minute to give the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead. That goal was unassisted.
• Tyler Lewis netted a second goal in the 67th minute off assists from Mike Milazzo and Jake Thibodeau. That made the score 4-0 Golden Bears.
• Elliot Texeira netted the fifth and final goal for the Golden Bears. Mike Milazzo had the assist there, as well, and made the score 5-0.
• Matias Otero netted an unassisted goal in the 76th minute to cut the Golden Bear lead to 5-1.
• Miguel Fortich cut the Golden Bear lead to 5-2 with a goal in the 89th minute. It was unassisted.
• Luke Theroux made three saves.
• Braylon Casinghino made four saves in the WNE win.
• WNE beat Westfield State 5-2.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will return to Suprenant Field for their next game against Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at 1:00 PM.
• Westfield State will travel to Russell Sage College for their next game on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 7:00 PM.