SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (March 11, 2025) – The Western New England women's lacrosse team fell in their first of two games in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Tuesday morning, dropping a 19-8 decision to the Red Hawks of Montclair State University. Lina Eves and Mia Celentano led the Golden Bears with two goals each. 

Records:

• Western New England: 0-4
• Montclair State University: 4-2

How it Happened:

Montclair raced out to a face start in the opening half and never looked back, taking control of the game early. Amra Lukovic scored just 1:52 into the game, beating Emily Picolla, who made her fourth straight start in net for the Golden Bears, which started out a 1-0 lead for Montclair. The Red Hawks picked up the first three goals of the game, as Cara McCartney and Kaely Sek both registered tally's to get Montclair ahead 3-0. With 3:52 left in the opening quarter, WNE's Allison Cyr would score her first goal of the season, which Western New England was hopeful would start a spark, scoring on a free position shot. Just 19 seconds later, Montclair would answer after winning the ensuing draw control and picking up another goal from Lukovic, giving Montclair a 4-1 lead. The Red Hawks found the back of the net twice more in the quarter, taking a commanding 6-1 lead on the Golden Bears early. The Red Hawks took 14 shots to Western New England's six in the opening quarter. Both goalkeepers made three saves overall. 

The Red Hawks fired up a goal just 24 seconds into the second quarter, pulling ahead 7-1, their largest lead of the game thus far. Western New England would have a good response in the second quarter, picking up two goals in less than a minute to get right back into the game. Lina Eves buried a shot into the back of the net on an assist from Mia Celentano for her second goal of the season, moving the score to 7-2. Celentano wasn't done there, putting up her ninth goal of the season, a reverse from WNE's second goal, as Eves would come up with the assist. The Red Hawks would answer with one goal with 11 minutes left in the quarter as Sek would score her 11^th of the season, putting the lead back in favor of Montclair, 8-3. Mia Celentano came up with her second of the game, this time firing a shot into the back of the net on a free position shot with nine minutes left to play as WNE would trail 8-4. From there, it would be all Red Hawks as Montclair would score five goals in the final 6:55 of the quarter, which gave them a 13-4 halftime lead. The Golden Bears would only turn the ball over two times in the quarter but failed on two clear attempts. The Red Hawks had the 14-12 shots advantage in the second quarter. 

Megan Spedaliere opened the third quarter with a goal for the blue and gold just 50 seconds into the frame as Western New England looked to break into the Montclair lead early in the frame. Cara McCartney had other ideas for Montclair, scoring her 12^th goal of the season with 10:52 left, putting WNE down again by nine.  The Red Hawks would begin running time, leading Western New England by ten after Ashley Pertosine scored her first goal of the season for Montclair with 6:25 to play in the third. Julia Weinert would respond for Western New England with a free position goal, her third of the year. Lina Eves would have the next goal on an assist from Abbey Francis as the Golden Bears would pull within three, 15-7 after three quarters. Western New England out shot Montclair 9-5 in the third. 

The Red Hawks would not let the Golden Bears back into the game, despite closing the third quarter with two quick goals. Montclair found the back of the net twice in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter as Western New England's comeback looked bleak. Lyndsey Bunnell would score with 9:18 to go in the game for the Golden Bears, her first of the year as Western New England trailed 17-8. Montclair finished the game off with the final two goals as the Golden Bears produced just three shots in the final 15 minutes of play and would be taken down 19-8 in their first of two games in San Juan. 

Inside the Lines:

• Lina Eves and Mia Celentano came up with four points each for Western New England in the loss on Tuesday morning. Both players had two goals and two assists each. Eves led WNE with ten shots, firing six on goal. 
• On defense, Gabby Sliwka led the Golden Beas with three caused turnovers and two ground balls. 
• Emily Picolla made 11 saves in net for Western New England. 
• Amra Lukovic had four goals and an assist for Montclair. Chelsea Stack picked up a hat trick to go along with two assists, both good for five points in the game. 
• Montclair out shot Western New England 42-30 overall in the game. WNE turned the ball over 20 times to Montclair's 17. 
• This is the first meeting all-time between the two teams. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears are right back in action on Wednesday, March 12 at 9:15 AM to take on Mount Saint Mary College for their final game of their spring break trip.