WESTFIELD, Mass. (October 1, 2025) – The Western New England women's soccer team traded a pair of goals with the hosting Owls of Westfield State University on Wednesday night on the road to tie with the Owls, 1-1, marking the second straight meeting between the two teams that have ended in a stalemate. 

Records:

• Western New England: 4-3-3
• Westfield State University: 2-4-4

How it Happened:

First Half:

• Ainsley Napolitano and Kayla Santucci were the starting goalkeepers.
• Westfield had the opening corner kick in the first minute, but WNE's Meghan Hartnett had the first shot on goal. Santucci saved it in the 4^th minute.
• The teams traded shots and possession early in the game. The middle minutes of the first half saw the goalies have to make a save each, but still the game stayed tied at 0-0.
• The WNE defense held Westfield State to just four shots and only one on goal in the opening 45 minutes, as Napolitano made the one save needed. 
• The Golden Bears produced six shots of their own on offense, three of which wound up on goal, including two from Hartnett. 
• Westfield State had the only corner kick of the opening half. 

Second Half:

• Just five minutes into the second half, Westfield State found the back of the net as Liv DeMember scored her second goal of the season on assists from Kiana Muratsuka and Katie Slattery, handing the Owls a lead. The goal came on a transition play following a save from Westfield's Kayla Santucci on a shot on goal from Haley Watcher. 
• The Owls continued to press following their goal, forcing a pair of blocked shots, including one that got past Ainsley Napolitano, but Abigail Alicandro helped out her goalkeeper with a save, while Napolitano made two early saves in the sequence. 
• The WNE defense stayed busy before the offense evened the score at one when Liza Pinette found twine for the third time this season on assists from Ava Borecki and Emma Forde, tying the game in the 66^th minute. 
• The Owls took a pair of shots on goal following Western New England's goal, but Napolitano was up to the task. The Owls put up 12 total shots in the second half. 
• One final chance from the Owls came in the 86^th minute when Olivia Crooks looked to find the back of the net but Napolitano turned away her ninth save of the night, holding onto a 1-1 tie for the Golden Bears in the end. 

Inside the Lines:

• Following a 6-4 shots advantage in the first half, the Golden Bears saw Westfield take 12 of the 15 recorded shots in the second half to dominate much of the offense. 
• Ainsley Napolitano made nine saves for the blue and gold in the draw. 
• Liza Pinette picked up her third tally of the season while both Ava Borecki and Emma Forde recorded their first career collegiate points. 
• Liv DeMember had the lone goal for Westfield State, her second of the year.  
• WNE and Westfield state have played to an even 4-4-3 record all-time against one another with the last two games ending in 1-1 draws.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The team will be back at WNE on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at noon for Golden Bear Weekend, and their conference clash with Roger Williams University, who is undefeated in the CNE.