SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 18, 2025) – The Western New England Field Hockey team powered its way past the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University in Conference of New England action on Saturday afternoon from Golden Bear Stadium, picking up an important 4-0 win while also celebrating five outstanding seniors in the victory. 

Records:

• Western New England: 10-6, 4-2 CNE
• Johnson & Wales University: 8-6, 3-3 CNE

How it Happened:

First Quarter:

• The Golden Bears wasted little time in the opening quarter to get on the board as Kayla Antonelli potted her fourth goal of the season, making an individual move to get past a defender and firing a shot past JWU goalkeeper Sophia Brea, giving WNE a 1-0 lead. 
• The Golden Bears looked for more as they dominated the opening 15 minutes of play, but came up unsuccessful, despite putting up the only seven shots of the quarter, five on goal. WNE also produced the lone penalty corner of the frame. 

Second Quarter:

• Johnson and Wales opened the second quarter with numerous chances after being shut out of offense in the first quarter. The Wildcats put up three shots and put up three penalty corners in the opening 1:40 of the frame, but Alex Tardugno, WNE starting goalkeeper, made two saves on two shots on goal, keeping JWU from scoring. 
• Western New England took advantage of a penalty stroke just over three minutes into the frame after a pair of dangerous chances from Mackenna Cooke and Mikayla Mrzywka did not find the back of the net, but a stroke taken by Mrzywka sailed into the top right corner of the net to give the Golden Bears a 2-0 lead in the game. Mrzywka put up her 14^th tally of the season. 
• Just over two minutes later, Mrzywka was back in the scoresheet, this time on a perfect pass to teammate Maddie Ripley, who smashed home the pass to score her first goal of the season, giving the blue and gold a 3-0 lead. Both teams had chances in the quarter, as WNE outshot JWU 11-4 and took seven of the nine penalty corners in the frame, taking a 3-0 lead into the halftime break. 

Third Quarter:

• Tardugno opened the quarter by making a pair of saves in quick succession to keep the Wildcats off the scoreboard again. The next four minutes following was dominated by the Western New England offense, but no goals were scored despite five shots and four penalty corners. 
• Just before the end of the quarter, senior Haley Kaczka linked up with Mrzywka off a penalty corner, as Mrzywka tapped home a goal, her second of the afternoon, giving Western New England a commanding 4-0 lead, a lead that held through the end of the frame. 
• WNE outshot JWU 7-4 in the quarter and had the only five penalty corners. 

Fourth Quarter:

• All active Golden Bears played in the fourth quarter, including all five seniors, Haley Kaczka, Kara Edwards, Mackenna Cooke, Kameron Marando, and Paige Remington. JWU took five shots on goal in the quarter, all taken in and saved by Tardugno, who came up with the shutout as the Golden Bears defeated JWU by a final score of 4-0. 

Inside the Lines:

• Mikayla Mrzywka continued to lead the WNE offense on Saturday, notching a pair of goals and an assist in the win. 
• WNE outshot JWU 29-13 in the game and 19-10 on goal. Alex Tardugno made all ten saves for the blue and gold, pitching her sixth shutout of the season. 
• JWU's Sophia Brea made 15 saves to keep WNE from pouring it on the Wildcats. 
• The Golden Bears are a perfect 2-0 against JWU all-time, following last season's 2-1 victory. 
• Congratulations to the WNE Field Hockey five outstanding seniors - Haley Kaczka, Kara Edwards, Mackenna Cooke, Kameron Marando, and Paige Remington. Thank you for all you have done for the program!

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears play in non-conference action this coming Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00 PM, welcoming the Cardinals of Wesleyan University to Golden Bear Stadium.