SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (August 30, 2025) – The Golden Bears began their 2025 campaign on Suprenant Field as they hosted WPI on Saturday. The teams played a fairly even first half, but the second half was all WPI. Goals from Maeve Steckley and Abigail Johnson were the difference in a 2-0 WPI win versus WNE.

Records:

• Western New England: 0-1-0 (0-0-0)
• WPI: 2-0-0 (0-0-0)

How it Happened:

First Half:

• The Golden Bears started Ainsley Napolitano in goal for the first time, with Ayla Verheul starting on the other side in net for the Engineers.
• The Engineers owned possession and most of the opening opportunities. They had the first shot and first corner kick chance.
• The Golden Bears grew into the game. They had the final few chances, including a pair of corner kick chances.
• The first half ended in a tie at 0-0.
• The Golden Bears led in shots 7-5, shots on goal 1-0, and corner kicks 2-1. The Engineers led in saves 1-0, fouls committed 5-4, and offsides 1-0.

Second Half:

• The second half saw the Engineers take over the game after an early WNE corner kick.
• The Engineers had three shots saved, a shot off the crossbar, and two corner kicks before WNE got two shots off, with one going on goal and being saved.
• WPI had another shot saved before Maeve Steckley found the net after a pass from Aliza Margolis. WPI led 1-0 in the 70th minute of play.
• WPI kept the pressure up with another shot that had to be saved. WNE answered with a few shots off-target and a corner kick, but could not apply any true pressure.
• WPI scored a second goal to double their lead in the 87th minute. Abigail Johnson scored the goal after assists from Reese Pszenny and Maeve Steckley. WPI led 2-0.
• WPI had two more shots saved by Napolitano, and WNE had a shot saved by Maya Mussell, who had entered the game in the second half as the WPI goalie.
• WPI won the game 2-0.

Inside the Lines:

• WPI defeated WNE 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
• Maeve Steckley and Abigail Johnson scored the goals for WPI.
• Maeve Steckley, Reese Pszenny, and Aliza Margolis each recorded one assist.
• Maeve Steckley and Gabby Sansone led their teams in shots with nine and three, respectively.
• The full-time stats showed WPI had more shots, 18-14, shots on goal, 9-3, and offsides, 4-0. WNE had more corner kicks, 5-4, and saves, 7-3, with Ainsley Napolitano making each WNE save.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will stay at home as they host their in-town rivals, Springfield College, on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 4:00 PM in the battle for Springfield.