Skip To Main Content

Western New England University

The Official Home of Western New England University Athletics
FH 9.21
2
Winner Colby CC (2-4)
1
Western New Eng. WNE (5-3)
Winner
Colby CC
(2-4)
2
Final
1
Western New Eng. WNE
(5-3)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT OT OT F
Colby CC 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2
Western New Eng. WNE 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

Game Recap: Field Hockey |

Twelve Tardugno Saves Prove Not Enough as Golden Bears Get Dropped by Mules on Home Turf, 2-1

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 21, 2025) – The Golden Bears hosted Colby College inside Golden Bear Stadium on Sunday, looking for their fourth win in a row. The first half saw Colby send shot after shot at WNE's goal, but could not break through for the lead. The second half saw WNE get back into the game, and Tessa Ebreo would break the tie in the 46th minute of the game. However, Colby would equalize and win the game 2-1 in a shootout.

Records:

  • Western New England: 5-3 (2-0)
  • Colby College: 2-4 (0-3)

How it Happened:

  • Alex Tardugno would start Tardugno's eighth consecutive game in goal for WNE.
  • Opal O'Rourke would start in the other goal for Colby to begin the game.
  • Colby took over the first quarter from the first whistle. They had nine shots and would not allow a single shot from WNE.
  • They would also have four penalty corners and had five shots on goal that Tardugno saved.
  • Tardugno's five saves included a couple of diving saves to keep the contest stuck at 0-0 after the first quarter.
  • The second quarter still saw Colby have the majority of the chances, but WNE's defense tightened up, allowing fewer opportunities.
  • The WNE offense started to find their footing in the end of the first half.
  • Kara Edwards intercepted a pass in front of the Colby goal and sent a shot just wide of the goal. That was the lone WNE first-half chance.
  • At the halftime break, Colby led in shots 11-1, shots on goal 5-0, and penalty corners 5-0. WNE had more saves, 5-0.
  • The third quarter was the closest quarter of the game. The play went from one end to the other, with only two shots being taken by Colby and one from WNE.
  • Tardugno had to make one more save for WNE during that quarter.
  • Colby was only gifted one penalty corner, but could not get a goal, and after three quarters of play, WNE and Colby were still tied 0-0.
  • The fourth quarter had fireworks after a quiet first three quarters.
  • WNE showed life early with a penalty corner and two shots. The second shot was from Tessa Ebreo, who sent the ball crashing into the back of the goal after a Haley Kaczka assist. WNE led 1-0 in the 47th minute.
  • However, 29 seconds later, Christina Sweeney found the back of WNE's net after getting a pass from Catie McNulty. The score was 1-1 with thirteen minutes left.
  • Colby kept the pressure on WNE with shots and corners, but WNE's defense and Alex Tardugno stood strong and kept the score even at one.
  • At the end of 60 minutes, the score was tied 1-1.
  • After four quarters of play, Colby led in shots 22-4, shots on goal 10-2, and penalty corners 12-1.
  • Tardugno had nine saves, and O'Rourke had one.
  • During the first 7-versus-7 overtime period, WNE would show a lot of pressure. It started with a WNE corner. Then, a Mrzywka shot was saved by O'Rourke.
  • WNE had the final goal-scoring chance with a corner, but no goal, and the game moved to a second overtime.
  • The second overtime saw Colby push forward for a goal and had four shots, with two against Tardugno, both of which were saved.
  • Colby had a few more after that, including a shot saved by Tardugno, but then WNE went on the attack.
  • They had three shots, with two saved by O'Rourke, and two corners, but no goals were scored.
  • The second overtime ended still tied at one, so the game went to a shootout.
  • The shootout started with Colby scoring and WNE missing their shootout attempts. Hadley Sweeney scored for Colby.
  • The same results occurred during the second shootout attempts. Christina Sweeney was the goal-scorer for Colby.
  • The third shootout attempts were both missed.
  • The fourth attempt for Colby was missed, but Tess Ebreo kept the game alive with a made shootout attempt.
  • Then, during the fifth attempts, neither team would score, and Colby would take the win, 2-1.

Inside the Lines:

  • Colby College defeated WNE 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
  • No goals were scored in the first three quarters.
  • Tessa Ebreo scored the first goal of the game in the 46th minute. Haley Kaczka was credited with the assist.
  • Twenty-nine seconds later, Christina Sweeney equalized for Colby off an assist from Catie McNulty.
  • The contest went to two overtimes and a shootout.
  • Colby would score two to WNE's one in the shootout and win the game.
  • The final stats for the contest saw Colby leading in shots 27-8, shots on goal 13-5, and penalty corners 14-5. WNE had more saves, 12-4.

Up Next on the Schedule:

  • The WNE Field Hockey team will stay in Springfield for their next game on Wednesday, September 25, 2025, at 7:00 PM. However, they will be on the road as they will travel across the city to Springfield College.
Print Friendly Version