SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 15, 2025) – Western New England women's cross country junior Lia Pouliot and Western New England men's soccer junior Ben Riley have been named Golden Bear Athletes of the Week following outstanding performances over the last week of competition. 

Pouliot raced at the Elms College Blazer Invitational over the weekend and helped the women's cross country team to a first-place finish overall out of six teams. Pouliot ran the 6k race in 25:21, the top time of the race out of 55 runners. Pouliot averaged under seven minutes per mile, running a 6:48 pace, which led to a first-place finish. The 25:21 time for Pouliot matches her 6k career best, set at last season's WNE Invitational (10/19). 

Riley shined for the men's soccer team, who nearly knocked off 23^rd-ranked Wheaton College at Suprenant Field in a weekday matchup before taking care of the University of New England in their opening Conference of New England matchup this weekend. Riley opened the week with his first collegiate goal against Wheaton College, the opening goal of the game. Riley then added his second career goal and picked up an assist against the University of New England, scoring the eventual game-winner in the second minute of the game. Riley took four shots in the game with two shots on goal, playing 47 minutes in the game. WNE would go on to win the contest 5-0. 

The Western New England women's cross country team returns to the course this coming Saturday, September 20, heading to North Dartmouth for the UMass-Dartmouth Invitational. 

WNE men's soccer plays a pair of road contests this coming weekend, traveling to Western Connecticut State University on Wednesday, September 17 at 6:00 PM and will jump back into Conference of New England play on Saturday, September 20 at 3:00 PM to take on the University of Hartford.