Box Score WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (April 18, 2025) – The Western New England women's lacrosse team dropped a Conference of New England game on Friday evening against the hosting Hawks of the University of Hartford, leaving next Wednesday night's game an important one, with playoff hopes and implications on the line. 

Records:

• Western New England: 5-10, 4-4 CNE
• University of Hartford: 10-5, 6-2 CNE

How it Happened:

The Hawks controlled the first draw of the game and would score just 45 seconds into the game as Madison Olmstead picked up the mark for Hartford, giving the home team an early 1-0 lead. Western New England had the next draw control victory and would also score of their first offensive possession of the game when Mia Celentano came away with her team leading 44^th goal of the season. Megan Spedaliere collected her fifth assist of the season for the blue and gold. The two teams would trade goals, with Hartford scoring their second of the game first before WNE would come back for a goal by Abbey Francis, assisted by Samantha Montecalvo to tie the game. Hartford would pick up their third goal as Olmstead had her second of the game before Ella Henry tied the game at three with 8:24 left in the first quarter. Hartford would have the first back-to-back goals in the game as Olmstead continued to score, having four of the first five for the Hawks, giving Hartford a 5-3 lead. Western New England would battle back, however, getting goals from Lina Eves and Celentano to tie the game at five with 4:25 left. Neither team could score for the remainder of the quarter, with both goalkeepers, Emily Picolla for WNE and Mandi Rivard for Hartford, making a save apiece in the final five minutes to stop the scoring flurry. Western New England would outshoot Hartford 9-7 in the quarter and won seven of the 11 draw controls overall. 

Western New England took their first lead of the game in the first 40 seconds of the second quarter as Celentano continued to score for the Golden Bears, giving the blue and gold a 6-5 lead. From there, it would be all Hartford, who took over most of the offensive play in the second quarter overall. The Hawks would score three quick goals in just over a minute to take an 8-6 lead. Hartford's goals continued as Lauren Samela and Meghan Smith capitalized on their chances, putting the Golden Bears behind 11-6. Samantha Montecalvo had the chance to put WNE on the board with 37 seconds left in the quarter, but Rivard would make a big save on the Golden Bears, holding Western New England off the scoreboard for the majority of the quarter, trailing 11-6 at the half. Western New England put up just six shots to Hartford's 12 in the second quarter. The Hawks scored six of the seven second-quarter goals overall. 

Western New England controlled the opening draw, which would result in another goal for Celenatno, who broke the scoring streak for Hartford and dropped the Hawks' lead down to four, trailing 11-7. In fact, Celentano would have the first three goals of the quarter for Western New England and would get the Golden Bears back in the game, trailing just 11-9 with 11:32 left in the third quarter. Hartford would strike for the next three, erasing Western New England's offensive work and would regain their five-goal lead, taking the 14-9 advantage. Celentano would continue to find the offense for the Golden Bears with her seventh tally of the evening that again brought Western New England within four. The Hawks would take a six-goal lead after the third quarter despite Western New England, especially Celentano, giving WNE a chance to climb back into the game, only trailing by two at one point. In the third, WNE took a 9-6 shots advantage overall. 

Needing a big start to the fourth quarter, WNE would get the win on the opening draw control, but Ella Nish's shot would be saved by Rivard, who made a handful of important saves for Hartford to keep the Hawks ahead. Hartford picked up the first goal of the fourth quarter from Meghan Smith, looking as if the Hawks would run away with the win. Lina Eves picked up a mark just 21 seconds following the Smith goal, bringing the lead down to six again. From there, Hartford would bury the Golden Bears with three of the final four goals as Celentano's eight-goal evening would not be enough to lift the Golden Bears over the Hawks in an important CNE game, falling by a final score of 20-12. Hartford outshot Western New England 10-5 in the final frame and outscored the Golden Bears 4-2 to pick up the win. 

Inside the Lines:

• Hartford's six goals in the second quarter to WNE's one would give the Hawks the victory in the game. Madison Olmstead led Hartford with seven goals and three assists in the win. 
• Mia Celentano led the offensive charge for WNE in the game, firing home eight goals and picking up an assist, good for nine points in the game. 
• Lina Eves was the only other Golden Bear with more than two points in the game, notching a pair of tallies. 
• Western New England caused just three turnovers in the game as Hartford took care of the ball, only turning it over ten times. 
• Emily Picolla made six saves for Western New England in net. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Potential playoff hopes are on the line for WNE in their final regular season game, which will take place on Wednesday, April 23 at 7:00 PM against Nichols College. The Golden Bears will celebrate their seniors prior to the s