PROVIDENCE, R.I. (October 28, 2025) – WNE traveled to Providence, Rhode Island, needing a win versus the Johnson & Wales University Wildcats to secure a spot in the CNE Postseason Tournament. JWU was the first to get on the scoreboard thanks to a Rowan Garr goal in the 10th minute. Liza Pinette was not phased, scoring in the 27th minute, to tie the game at 1-1. Thanks to an Emily Smith clearance on the goal line, WNE would stay even with JWU, and after a goalless second half, they would draw the Wildcats, 1-1.

Records:

• Western New England: 7-6-5 (4-4-2)
• Johnson & Wales University: 8-7-3 (6-2-2)

How it Happened:

First Half:

• The contest started with Ainsley Napolitano in goal for WNE and Kyla Stamilio in goal for JWU.
• After a 3rd minute corner for the Wildcats, the Golden Bears would look dangerous, picking up two corner kick chances of their own.
• However, Rowan Garr would slow down the WNE momentum with a goal assisted by Sophia Warburton in the 10th minute. Warburton sent a cross across the face of the goal, and Garr sent a shot back the other way into the bottom-right corner of the goal. JWU led 1-0.
• JWU had all the momentum after their first goal. They tested WNE with another corner and two shots on goal. Napolitano had to make two saves and did.
• They maintained possession and kept creating goal-scoring chances.
• WNE was not phased. Ava dos Santos would play a through-pass to Liza Pinette on the right side of the field. Pinette changed direction away from the end line and sent a left-footed shot past the goalie to tie the game at 1-1 in the 27th minute.
• The teams started to trade shots on goal and major scoring opportunities. Both goalies had to make a save to turn away the opposition.
• The rest of the first half was rather calm outside of the 40th minute when JWU had a shot that got past the WNE goalie but was cleared off the line by Emily Smith. That kept the score tied at one.
• After 45 minutes of play, the teams were tied 1-1. JWU had more shots, 6-2, more shots on goal, 5-2, and more corner kicks, 4-2. WNE had more fouls, 4-2, and more saves, 4-1.

Second Half:

• JWU would start the second half with immediate pressure versus WNE.
• They had three shots in the first ten minutes, with two shots getting saved by Napolitano.
• They also did not let up, sending pressure down the field and creating corner kick opportunities, constantly making the WNE defense work hard.
• WNE would start to battle back into the second half with a couple of corner kick chances and a shot from Tess Chevalier after a corner kick, which made Stamilio make a save to keep the score even at one.
• The Wildcats would respond once again. They would set up a corner kick chance and test Napolitano once again. However, Napolitano was equal to the task for the sixth time.
• The final 15 minutes of the contest saw the teams move the ball from one end of the pitch to the other. A couple of shots were taken, with one shot being saved by Napolitano, and the contest would end in a 1-1 draw.

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears and Wildcats drew 1-1 on Tuesday evening.
• Rowan Garr scored in the 10th minute after a Sophia Warburton assist to give JWU the 1-0 lead.
• Liza Pinette equalized after Ava dos Santos sent Pinette the ball down the right side of the field. Pinette's goal made the score 1-1 in the 27th minute.
• The second half would see a few major chances for both teams, but no goals.
• The final stats showed that WNE led in fouls 4-2 and saves 8-2.
• WNE trailed JWU in shots 14-5, shots on goal 9-3, and corner kicks 6-4.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will see what lies ahead for the team tomorrow when the rest of the CNE Women's Soccer games conclude. The final spot in the CNE Postseason Tournament is still to be decided.