BEVERLY, Mass. (November 5, 2025) – The Western New England field hockey team came up with a game-tying goal with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but a penalty stroke goal from the hosting and top-seeded Gulls of Endicott College gave the 8^th-ranked team in Division III the 3-2 victory, eliminating the Golden Bears from playoff contention. 

Records:

• No. 4 Western New England: 12-9
• No. 1 Endicott College: 19-1

How it Happened:

First Quarter:

• Both teams had their chances to get on the scoreboard first in the game as the Golden Bears had the only shot on goal in the frame, but could not score. Endicott had four shots in the first two minutes of the game as Lilly Johnson (2), Tori Swanson, and Maddy Dengler all took shots that were blocked or went wide of the cage. 
• WNE found its offensive game after Jenna Nirgo's shot seven minutes into the contest, leading to a penalty corner for the blue and gold. Tania Evans had the opening and only shot on goal for WNE in the frame as the Golden Bears tallied four total shots and picked up three penalty corners, but did not come up with the first goal of the game. 

Second Quarter:

• Alex Tardugno made her first save of the night just two minutes into the second quarter after Swanson had a chance for the Gulls but was denied by the sophomore goalkeeper. Mikayla Mrzywka picked up a shot on goal five minutes later, taken by Endicott's Faith Minickene. Mrzywka had the three shots for WNE in the quarter overall. 
• Endicott capitalized on their first and only penalty corner of the opening half as Lily Johnson fired home her sixth goal of the season, giving the Gulls a 1-0 lead at the end of the frame, scoring with just 23 seconds remaining in the quarter. Endicott had a 10-8 shots advantage in the half, with Tardugno making four second-quarter saves. 

Third Quarter:

• The Golden Bears had full control of the opening ten minutes of the third quarter, creating multiple chances at goal. Mikayla Mrzywka picked up a shot on goal just 28 seconds into the quarter following a penalty corner, followed by back-to-back shots on goal by Tessa Ebreo, saved by the Gulls. Another penalty corner opportunity for the Golden Bears gave Western New England another chance, one they capitalized on when Haley Kaczka found the back of the net for her seventh goal of the season on an assist from Analise Trani, tying the score at one. 
• The Golden Bears continued to press on offense, taking four more shots following the Kaczka goal, three on goal, all saved by Minickene.  The Gulls then turned the offense in their favor for the final three minutes of play, shooting six total times, one of which found the back of the net as Tori Swanson registered her 22^nd goal of the season, giving the Gulls a 2-1 lead with 2:30 remaining in the quarter. 
• The frame saw WNE outshoot the Gulls 8-6 and take four of the five penalty corners overall, but Endicott held a 2-1 lead after 45 minutes of play. 

Fourth Quarter:

• The home team had the better of the chances in the opening seven minutes of the fourth quarter as Alex Tardugno and the WNE defense came up big to not allow the Gulls another goal. Olivia Lugo made a defensive save for WNE in the sequence. 
• The Golden Bears pressed for a tying goal and came up with one with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when Tania Evans found Western New England's Tessa Ebreo on the back post, who slotted a shot into the back of the net, getting the game back tied, this time 2-2. 
• Endicott picked up the final two chances at goal before the quarter came to an end, as overtime was needed to settle who would head to the Conference of New England Championship Game on Saturday.

First Overtime:

• The opening three shots of the frame came from the Gulls, who registered all three on goal, a pair of saves from Tardugno, and a defensive save from Tessa Ebreo, keeping Western New England's chances alive. The next two minutes led to four shots for the Golden Bears, three on goal, but Minickene made a pair of diving saves to keep Western New England from winning the game. 
• With just under two minutes remaining, EC's Tori Swanson had a chance to win the game, but the third defensive save of the night from WNE prevented the goal as Jenna Nigro got her stick across the goal mouth to keep Endicott from winning the game, forcing double overtime. 

Second Overtime:

• Alex Tardugno made an early save on Swanson to keep EC from scoring, but a penalty stroke was called in favor of Endicott, and Riley Perkins netted the game-winning goal to send the Gulls to the CNE Championship game and the Golden Bears into heartbreak, as Endicott prevailed, defeating the Golden Bears by a final score of 3-2. 

Inside the Lines:

• Alex Tardugno recorded 12 saves for the Golden Bears in the tough loss, allowing three goals. Her counterpart, Faith Minickene, also had 12 saves for Endicott. 
• Haley Kaczka and Tessa Ebreo both had goals for the Golden Bears. 
• Endicott held the shots advantage 28-22 and 18-14 on goal. 
• The Golden Bears had 11 penalty corners to Endicott's eight. 
• This is the second time in three meetings that the Golden Bears and Gulls played to a one-goal game. This is the second double-overtime meeting between the teams.
• WNE wraps up their season with a 12-9 overall record, falling in the CNE Semifinal round for the fifth straight season.