BOSTON, Mass. (October 18, 2025) – The Golden Bears fell against the Leopards of Wentworth Institute of Technology on Saturday. They opened the game well with a fourth-minute goal from Natalia Estrada-Rangel, but would let up two goals in the first half after the opener, which proved to be their downfall as they lost 2-1.
Records:
- Western New England: 5-6-4 (3-4-1)
- Wentworth Institute of Technology: 7-3-6 (2-3-2)
How it Happened:
First Half:
- The game started with Ainsley Napolitano and Shyla Kulesza in goal for WNE and Wentworth, respectively.
- WNE started fast with a shot fifteen seconds into the game.
- Then, Tess Chevalier found Natalia Estrada-Rangel in front of the goal. Estrada-Rangel would find the back of the net to gift WNE the early lead. WNE led 1-0.
- Liza Pinette then sent a quick shot at Kulesza, who made a save.
- WNE had all the momentum through the first ten minutes of play. However, Wentworth responded with pressure.
- They had a few corner kicks and a shot. They would not let WNE get a shot chance before they would equalize the score in the 28th minute.
- A croner kick from Brianna Reid was passed around before Rachel Hagerty got the ball and scored. WNE and Wentworth were now tied 1-1.
- Wentworth had all the momentum, and that continued through corner kicks and shots through the latter part of the first half.
- Then, in the 41st minute, Brooke Finlay scored off an assist from Jordan Dahan, and Wentworth had the lead 2-1.
- WNE had a corner kick chance in the 43rd minute, but no goal would be scored, and the teams went to halftime with WNE trailing 2-1.
- At the half, Wentworth had more shots, 6-4, corners, 4-1, saves, 1-0, and fouls, 7-4. Both teams had two saves.
Second Half:
- WNE tried to garner momentum early in the second half with an early corner kick. However, they could not find a goal.
- Then, Wentworth tested Napolitano twice. Once in the 51st minute and once in the 54th minute. Napolitano saved both shots.
- The teams sent the ball back and forth before WNE found a corner kick chance in the 67th minute. However, they could not convert.
- WNE kept moving towards a goal, but chance after chance was turned away.
- The 79th minute saw Napolitano make another save to keep the Golden Bears at a one-goal deficit.
- In a last-ditch effort to find a draw, WNE would take two more shots in the 83rd and 85th minutes. Natalia Estrada-Rangel sent a shot at goal, but Kulesza made the save.
- Tess Chevalier sent a shot wide of the goal after the prior shot, and that would be the last WNE chance.
- WNE lost 2-1 in Boston to Wentworth.
Inside the Lines:
- WNE lost to Wentworth 2-1 on Saturday.
- Natalia Estrada-Rangel netted the opening goal in the 4th minute. Tess Chevalier was credited with the assist.
- Rachel Hagerty scored the equalizing goal in the 28th minute on an unassisted goal. The score was tied, 1-1.
- Brooke Finlay scored the game-winning goal for the Leopards in the 41st minute. Jordan Dahan assisted the goal, and WNE trailed 2-1.
- WNE trailed in shots 10-7, shots on goal 5-3, corners 5-4, and fouls 17-9. WNE had more saves, 3-2.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- WNE will travel back to Springfield, Massachusetts, for their next game as they host the Fitchburg State University Falcons on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 3:30 PM.