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MSOC 11.1.25
2
Winner Western New Eng. WNE (9-8-2, 6-3-1)
1
Hartford HAR (10-6-2, 6-3-1)
Winner
Western New Eng. WNE
(9-8-2, 6-3-1)
2
Final
1
Hartford HAR
(10-6-2, 6-3-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Western New Eng. WNE 0 1 1 2
Hartford HAR 1 0 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Lewis Leads Golden Bears to CNE Semifinals With Overtime Winner

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (November 1, 2025) – The Golden Bears traveled down to West Hartford, Connecticut, to take on the number four-seeded University of Hartford in the First Round of the CNE Postseason Tournament. After falling behind early, Tyler Lewis would equalize in the second half and, with a header shot in overtime, would send the Golden Bears to the semifinals to complete the upset versus the Hawks.

Records:

  • Western New England: 9-8-2 (6-3-1)
  • University of Hartford: 10-6-2 (6-3-1)

How it Happened:

First Half

  • Ryan Lunn and Braylon Casinghino stood across from each other in goal to start the game.
  • WNE started quickly with two shots on goal and a Ben Riley shot needing to be saved in the 6th minute of the contest.
  • However, it was Hartford who scored the first goal. Jared Noble found the back of the net after Austin Murawski found Noble with the assist.
  • WNE sprang back into action with the very next shot on goal and corner kick.
  • WNE kept the pressure on with shots, including one on goal.
  • WNE would keep moving towards scoring the next goal, but just could not find another shot for the rest of the half. However, neither could Hartford, and WNE trailed 1-0 at halftime.
  • The halftime stats saw WNE leading 5-1 in shots and 3-1 in shots on goal. WNE also had more corner kicks, 3-1. Hartford had more saves, 3-0, and both teams had four fouls.

Second Half:

  • The second half saw the teams trade possession early.
  • WNE would build their momentum through a few shots and a corner kick. Hartford tried to counter, but the momentum continued to build for WNE.
  • That was the case through the 65th minute of play, and in the 69th minute, the team-leader in goals this season for WNE, Tyler Lewis, found the back of the net. Jacob Dounetos was credited with the assist, and WNE was level with Hartford 1-1.
  • WNE would continue to make the game tough for Hartford, and in the 78th minute, Hartford would be shown a red card, playing with ten men for the remainder of the contest.
  • Ben Riley had another shot on goal, which Lunn saved after that.
  • WNE kept moving forward for a goal, and Cole Casinghino would send a shot at Lunn in the 88th minute, but the Hartford goalie made the save.
  • Hartford earned a corner kick in the 89th minute but was unable to find a goal, and the contest went to overtime.

Overtime:

  • Overtime began with WNE playing the ball forward and earning a kick in the corner. The ball was played by Jacob Dounetos over the top of the group of players in front of the goal and collided with Tyler Lewis' head.
  • The ball deflected into the goal, and the Golden Bears celebrated a 2-1 upset victory versus Hartford in the 92nd minute of play.

Inside the Lines:

  • The Golden Bears defeated the Hawks 2-1 in overtime.
  • Jared Noble scored in the 11th minute to give Hartford the lead off an Austin Murawski assist. Hartford led 1-0.
  • Tyler Lewis equalized the game at 1-1 in the 69th minute off an assist from Jacob Dounetos.
  • Jacob Dounetos found Tyler Lewis once again, in the 92nd minute, with Lewis sending a header shot into the back of the goal to gift WNE the 2-1 upset victory.
  • The final statistics showed WNE leading in shots (18-5), shots on goal (8-1), corner kicks (9-4), and fouls (11-10). Hartford led in saves 6-0.
Coach's Corner:
Head coach Devin O'Neill was asked for a comment on the contest and what needs to be changed leading up to Roger Williams on Tuesday. "Very good play in the second half. In preparation for Roger Williams, we need to be good in possession and quick in transition when we lose the ball," O'Neill answered.
Tyler Lewis was asked for a comment on his goal, what he saw leading up to the goal, and how it feels to be the hero of the first round playoff game to help his team advance to the semifinals. "For the last goal off the corner I think as a team we saw a lot of things. We saw that going short was working for us and stacking the goal line was giving us great chances earlier in the game so I knew it was bound to work. Credit to Jacob for putting the ball in the perfect area for their goalie not being able to come out and claim it as well. As soon as I saw it on its way for the back post I knew it was going to get to me and I just had to do the easy part and tap it forward," Lewis stated. He continued by saying, "It feels amazing, the most unreal feeling I've ever felt in my life but none of that is possible without all 30 of our guys working to get us there. Down 1-0 with 25 minutes left is definitely pretty hard, especially versus a very well-rounded defensive team like UHart but nobody on that field gave up and we fought way too hard not to not be able to get 1 goal in that time. Now we look forward to Roger (Williams) and go in with that same energy and focus we had in the second half."
 

Up Next on the Schedule:

  • WNE will travel to Bristol, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 4:00 PM, as they take on the top-seeded Hawks of Roger Williams University in the CNE Semifinals.
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