Fitchburg, Mass. (September 7, 2024) – WNE was in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, for a matchup with the Fitchburg State University Falcons on Saturday. Brynn Murphy got the scoring started for the Golden Bears. Emma French and Gabby Sansone followed with goals at the end of the half to give the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead at the half. Brynn Murphy would net a second goal early in the second half, and the Golden Bears would hold that scoreline for the rest of the game to win 4-0.

Records:

• Western New England: 2-0-2 (0-0-0)
• Fitchburg State University: 0-3-0 (0-0-0)

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears and Falcons faced off in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The game started with Molly McLaughlin and Madison Dawkins in goal for WNE and Fitchburg State, respectively. Fitchburg State's Kendra Peretzman had the first shot of the game. It went wide. Then, Brynn Murphy sent a shot over the net. The teams were trading shots early. However, the Golden Bears would ramp up the pressure, and after a turnover forced by Lindsay Reidy, Reidy got the ball to Keara Conroy, who sent a crisp pass to Brynn Murphy, running at the net. Murphy moved to the right and sent the ball past the goalkeeper to put the Golden Bears up 1-0. The Golden Bears would not fall back to defend after the goal. They continued the pressure. They had four shots over the next fifteen minutes and a corner kick. That included a shot from Emma French, which Dawkins saved. The Falcons tried to change the momentum with a shot in the 37th minute, but it was blocked. Then, in the 39th minute, the Golden Bears found themselves with the ball in the attacking half of the field. After the ball popped into the air, it found its way to Gabby Sansone, who had the goalkeeper beat and dribbled to the left side of the net. Sansone then fed a pass across the face of the goal to Emma French, who got a foot on the ball and found the back of the net. The Golden Bears led 2-0. The Golden Bears were not finished. Gabby Sansone would send a shot at Dawkins, which was saved. Then, in the 42nd minute, Sansone would find the back of the net. Alison Goodreau sent a lofted pass over the defenders to Sansone, who was cutting toward the goal. Sansone settled the ball and sent a right-footed shot across goal into the back of the net. The Golden Bears had a 3-0 lead. The Falcons would get a shot off at the end of the half; however, it went wide, and the first half ended. The stats showed the Golden Bears ahead in shots 11-4, shots on goal 5-0, and fouls 6-4. The Falcons led in saves 2-0. Both teams had one corner kick each.

The second half started with Brianna Carroll entering the game in net for the Golden Bears. The second half would begin with some back-and-forth play. However, the Golden Bears had the first shot after the break. It went wide. However, in the 54th minute, Brynn Murphy made the score 4-0. Murphy took a pass from Liza Pinette on the left side of the field. Murphy settled the ball and sent a left-footed shot across the net into the back right corner. The Golden Bears would not stop with the pressure. They had the next three shots, with a shot from Isabella Montalvo getting saved by Dawkins. Then, the Falcons looked to strike with a shot on goal from Zoe Chrisostomides. However, Brianna Carroll made the save. After another Falcon shot was blocked, the Golden Bears went back to sending shots at the net. Makenna Dailey had a shot saved by Dawkins. Ella Lupo had a shot saved by Dawkins, as well, in the 73rd minute. Dailey had another opportunity saved by Dawkins in the 76th minute. Then, Dawkins saved a shot from Alison Goodreau in the 78th minute. The 81st minute saw Kendra Peretzman send a shot at goal, which got past Carroll, but Elizabeth Albarella was able to clear the ball before it went into the goal. Kayla Prisley had two shots saved by Carroll in a row. Then, after a Falcon shot went wide of the net, Janelle Lambert had a shot saved by Dawkins, and Peretzman had a shot saved by Carroll. Those were the final goal-scoring opportunities of the game, and the Golden Bears won the game 4-0. The final stats saw the Golden Bears leading in shots 21-11, shots on goal 12-5, corner kicks 6-2, and fouls 10-9. The Falcons led in saves 8-5.

Head coach Kristin Hensinger was asked what Hensinger thought the key to the team's great performance was today. "It took a while for us to settle into the game. Once we did, we were able to connect and move the ball.  It led to some unselfish plays, including the assist by Gabby Sansone when she beat the goalie and found Emma in front of the net," Hensinger replied. Hensinger was also asked to speak on the performances of Brynn Murphy (two goals) and Gabby Sansone (one goal and one assist). "Brynn and Gabby had good movement off the ball that allowed them to find some open spaces. Both were composed under pressure and were able to find the back of the net."

Brynn Murphy, who netted two goals in the win, was asked what Murphy thought about Murphy's performance and what worked well for Murphy on the field today. "I thought I started slow but was able to start finding space to move into. Once I started reading the play and getting into the gaps, it created a lot more opportunities for me to go to goal," Murphy responded.

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears faced the Falcons of Fitchburg State on Saturday.
• Brynn Murphy got the Golden Bears on the scoreboard with a goal assisted by Keara Conroy in the 16th minute. WNE led 1-0.
• Emma French scored in the 39th minute off an assist from Gabby Sansone to double the Golden Bear lead.
• Gabby Sansone then scored to put the Golden Bears up 3-0 in the 42nd minute. Alison Goodreau was credited with the assist on that goal.
• Brynn Murphy notched a second goal in the 54th minute of the game to make the score 4-0.
• Madison Dawkins made eight saves for the Falcons.
• Molly McLaughlin and Brianna Carroll led the Golden Bears to a shutout victory. Carroll made four saves.
• The Golden Bears beat the Falcons 4-0.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears travel out to Schenectady, N.Y., for their fifth and final away game to start the season. They take on Union College on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 6:00 PM.
• The Falcons start a three-game road trip with their next game at Suffolk University. That game will be on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 7:00 PM.