Skip To Main Content

Western New England University

The Official Home of Western New England University Athletics
MSOC 8.29
0
Western New Eng. WNEU (0-2-0, 0-0-0)
2
Winner MIT MIT (2-0-0, 0-0-0)
Western New Eng. WNEU
(0-2-0, 0-0-0)
0
Final
2
MIT MIT
(2-0-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western New Eng. WNEU 0 0 0
MIT MIT 0 2 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Golden Bears Drop Opening Day Contest 2-0 to Engineers

Cambridge, Mass. (August 29, 2025) – The men's soccer program opened its 2025 campaign on the road versus the Engineers of MIT. The Golden Bears and Engineers ended the first half tied at zero. However, MIT's Charles Lai gave them a 1-0 lead three minutes into the second half. Later in the second, Jesse Hedequist and Peter Jedlicka assisted a second MIT goal, scored by Dilin Meloni. MIT led 2-0 in the 80th minute. MIT would hold onto the 2-0 win to claim the opening day game.

Records:

  • Western New England: 0-1-0 (0-0-0)
  • MIT: 1-0-0 (0-0-0)

How it Happened:

  • MIT kicked off the game with the first shot on goal of their season. Braylon Casinghino was able to make the save against Woods Windham. Ben Riley made WNE's presence on the team known in the sixth minute, when Riley had the opening shot on goal of WNE's season. Goalie Paolo Mangiafico made a diving save on that shot to keep the score 0-0.
  • Midway through the first half, the stats were about even. Both goalies had made a save.
  • The first half ended in a tie, with the teams knotted at 0-0. The first half stats saw WNE leading in shots 6-4, corners 2-0, and fouls 4-3. MIT led in offsides 1-0. The teams each had two shots on goal and two saves.
  • MIT earned the lead three minutes into the second half when Ethan Reich sent a pass to Garrett Dyson, who found Charles Lai with a pass. Lai would send the ball past the keeper, and MIT had a 1-0 lead in the 49th minute of play.
  • Halfway through the second half, the Golden Bears had ramped up the pressure and had multiple shots. Two of which were on goal, but Mangiafico made the saves and kept the Engineers in the lead 1-0.
  • The Engineers doubled their lead off a Dilin Meloni goal. Jesse Hedequist and Peter Jedlicka assisted the goal. MIT led 2-0 in the 80th minute.
  • WNE suffered a red card in the 86th minute and had to play the rest of the game with ten men.
  • The contest ended with the Engineers defeating WNE 2-0.
Coach's Corner:
Coach Devin O'Neill was asked for a comment after the game. "I challenged the guys to be a very hard-working and competitive team today and they were. There were many parts of our play that was quite good today and although we are disappointed with the result, we're going to focus on the positive aspects from today and hopefully build from there on Sunday" O'Neill stated.

Inside the Lines:

  • The Golden Bears dropped their opening contest in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by a score of 2-0.
  • Charles Lai and Dilin Meloni scored in the second half for the Engineers.
  • Garrett Dyson, Ethan Reich, Jesse Hedequist, and Peter Jedlicka each picked up an assist for MIT.
  • Final stats saw WNE leading in shots, 12-9, and corners, 7-1.
  • MIT led in fouls 8-7, offsides 3-1, and saves 5-3.
  • Both teams had five shots on goal.

Up Next on the Schedule:

The Golden Bears will be back in action on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at 1:00 PM. They will welcome Clark University to Springfield for their home-opener.

Print Friendly Version