SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 8, 2025) – After the rain cleared, WNE welcomed Curry College to Springfield for a conference gameday. WNE would possess most of the main chances throughout the game, but Curry College's defense, led by goalkeeper Lexi Smardon, would stand strong, and the teams would finish the game at 90 minutes, tied at 0-0.

Records:

• Western New England: 4-4-4 (2-2-1)
• Curry College: 4-5-4 (1-2-2)

How it Happened:

First Half:

• The contest started with Lexi Smardon and Ainsley Napolitano in goal for the teams.
• WNE posed a threat to the Colonels early in the contest. WNE would maintain a lot of the possession early. They had a shot in the third minute and an early corner kick in the sixth minute.
• As the game wore on, Curry College found themselves with more chances on WNE's defensive side of the field.
• They had a couple of corner kicks before WNE would fight back. WNE had the first shot on goal of the game in the 28th minute. It was saved. WNE had another shot in the 34th minute, but missed wide of the goal.
• Lilliana Redman tested Napolitano in the 36th minute for the Colonels before Emily Smith made Smardon make another save.
• WNE ended the first half with another shot saved by Smardon and a shot that missed wide right. WNE was gaining momentum going into halftime.
• The statistics at halftime showed WNE leading in shots 6-2, shots on goal 3-1, corner kicks 3-2, and fouls 3-1. Curry College had more saves, 3-1.

Second Half:

• The second half saw WNE come out of halftime on a mission. They held on to the majority of possession and sent shot after shot at goal and at Smardon.
• Gabby Sansone had the first shot on goal in the first minute of the second half. Smardon made the save.
• It was a wave of shots at goal for WNE. They had five shots in the first ten minutes of the second half. The Colonels kept turning WNE away, though.
• WNE was persistent. They kept finding runs down the pitch toward the goal. However, they could not connect for a goal.
• The Colonels then tested Napolitano in the 63rd minute, but the shot was saved. They had another shot miss over the crossbar in the 64th minute.
• WNE continued to create shot chances, but could not convert them into goals.
• Smith would have a shot saved, and Pinette timed a run perfectly to get behind the defense in the 80th minute, but just missed wide right on the shot from close distance on the right side of the goal.
• That was not WNE's last chance, though. They had four shots in the final ten minutes, with Abigail Alicandro sending a shot at Smardon for WNE's final chance. It was saved, and Curry College held on to the 0-0 draw versus WNE.

Inside the Lines:

• WNE and Curry College drew 1-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
• WNE had the majority of the chances. They had eight shots on goal compared to two from the Colonels.
• WNE had 23 shots compared to four shots from Curry College.
• WNE also had more corner kicks, 6-3, and fouls, 8-5.
• Curry College had more saves, 8-2.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will travel to Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, for their next CNE game on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at noon.