PROVIDENCE, R.I. (October 28, 2025) – The Golden Bears took on the Wildcats from Johnson & Wales University for the first time in the Conference of New England on Tuesday, with playoff seeding implications on the line. The first half saw JWU play on the front foot and take the early 1-0 lead. WNE would fight back in the second half, but a 79th-minute goal from the Wildcats would send WNE home to Springfield with a 2-0 loss.

Records:

• Western New England: 8-8-2 (6-3-1)
• Johnson & Wales University: 8-5-4 (6-2-2)

How it Happened:

First Half

• The Golden Bears started Braylon Casinghino in goal, with Alexander Nardolillo starting in goal for the Wildcats.
• The goal-scoring chance started in the seventh minute, and they were both JWU early. JWU had two corner kick chances thwarted by the Golden Bear defense.
• WNE would have the next shot, but it sailed wide.
• JWU would get another early chance in the 16th minute, and this time, they would capitalize.
• Christopher Vargas rattled the crossbar with a shot before the deflection found Ryan Alevs, who tucked the ball into the back of the goal. JWU led 1-0.
• WNE tried to answer quickly with three shots over the next three minutes. None of them would be on net.
• The teams traded possession back and forth, with both taking shots. However, JWU was the only team to send a shot on goal. It was saved by Casinghino this time, though. WNE still trailed 1-0.
• WNE had chances after that. They had a shot blocked and a corner kick, but could not score.
• WNE had a shot chance in the final minutes of the first half, but Nardolillo made the save, and WNE went into halftime trailing 1-0.
• The first-half statistics showed WNE trailing in shots on goal, 2-1, but ahead in shots, 9-4. WNE also had more fouls, 6-3. Both teams had one save and two corners.

Second Half:

• WNE made a goalkeeper change at halftime, with Anthony Shea entering the game for Casinghino.
• The Golden Bears started the second half with the first two chances, but no goal.
• Then, JWU answered with the first shot on goal of the second half. Shea would make the save to keep WNE in the game.
• WNE would earn two corner kicks in the 62nd minute. The Golden Bears could not get a result from the corners, but they would not stop pressuring JWU.
• Three more shots were taken by WNE, with two shots on goal. Nick Edwards and Marcus Joshi had shots saved by Nardolillo.
• Chad Parente answered with a shot for JWU. Shea made the save, and the scoreline stayed the same as the first half.
• Just as it looked like WNE was gaining momentum, JWU would double their lead. Chad Parente sent a shot screaming across the ground to the bottom-right corner of the goal, and JWU led 2-0 in the 79th minute.
• WNE tried to find a few more chances in the final ten minutes, but could not find the back of the net with Nardolillo making a save.
• WNE fell to JWU, 2-0.

Inside the Lines:

• JWU defeated WNE, 2-0, on Tuesday.
• JWU struck first with a Ryan Alves goal, assisted by Christopher Vargas in the 16th minute. JWU led 1-0.
• JWU's Chad Parente scored in the 79th minute to lift JWU to a 2-0 lead.
• The Golden Bears were held scoreless by the Wildcats' defense, including goalkeeper Alexander Nardolillo, who made four saves.
• The final stats showed WNE leading in shots (17-7), corner kicks (4-3), and fouls (13-7).
• JWU led the stat sheet in shots on goal, 5-4, and saves, 4-3.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will await the evening conference games that start at 7:00 PM to learn where and when their next match will be played in the CNE Postseason Tournament.