DUDLEY, Mass. (September 26, 2025) – WNE's women's soccer team was in Dudley, Massachusetts, for their third conference contest of the season on Friday evening. The first half would not go as WNE had planned, but the second half saw goals from Gabby Sansone and Sophia Scyocurka propel the team to their second conference victory of the season.

Records:

• Western New England: 4-3-2 (2-1-0)
• Nichols College: 1-9-0 (0-3-0)

How it Happened:

First Half:

• Ainsley Napolitano and Isabella Dupret were the goalkeepers for the Golden Bears and Bison, respectively.
• The first half saw the teams trade possession of the ball early. WNE would pick up an early corner kick chance, but could not generate a goal.
• WNE had two early chances, but both Sophia Scyocurka and Liza Pinette would send the ball off the right post of the woodwork.
• WNE built momentum throughout the first half, with a shot from Meghan Hartnett getting saved by Dupret, along with a few corner kicks.
• WNE kept pressure on thanks to a Liza Pinette shot testing Dupret, but it was saved.
• WNE's defense swarmed the Bison in the first half. They could not get a shot off.
• Emily Smith and Abigail Alicandro each added shots on goal in the first half. Dupret kept the Bison in the game with more saves.
• The first half ended with a flurry of chances. Hailey Wachter and Ella Lupo had shots saved by Dupret, and the Bison had their first shot of the game saved by Napolitano. Caroline Shields was credited with the lone shot for the Bison.
• At the break, WNE had more shots, 12-1, more fouls, 5-2, more corner kicks, 3-0, and more shots on goal, 6-1. Nichols had more saves, 6-1.

Second Half:

• The second half had an unexpected start for WNE, but they quickly corrected that.
• The first two shots on goal during the second half were from the Bison. Napolitano made two saves to keep the Golden Bears from falling behind.
• Then, in the 52nd minute, Gabby Sanson struck with a shot going into the bottom right corner of the goal after an assist from Emma Withington. WNE led 1-0.
• After a wide shot from the Bison in the 54th minute, WNE would send pressure at the Bison, and in the 63rd minute, Sophia Scyocurka found the lower-right corner of the goal, as well. Gabby Sansone had the assist on that goal, and WNE led 2-0.
• Nichols looked to strike back in the 66th minute, but could not get past Napolitano.
• The teams traded a few shots, but none would test the keepers until Isabel Barbieri made Dupret save a shot in the 77th minute. It would lead to a corner kick, but not a goal.
• A few more shots were taken after that in the final ten minutes of the contest. However, there were no shots on goal until the final four seconds of the game, when Liza Pinette sent a shot at goal, which Dupret saved to end the game with WNE winning 2-0.

Inside the Lines:

• WNE defeated Nichols College 2-0 on Friday evening.
• The first half was scoreless.
• Gabby Sansone opened the scoring with a goal in the 52nd minute. Emma Withington was credited with the assist. WNE led 1-0.
• Gabby Sansone assisted Sophia Scyocurka in the 63rd minute to give WNE a 2-0 lead.
• The final statistics showed WNE leading in shots (20-6), shots on goal (10-4), corner kicks (6-0), and fouls (16-5). Nichols had more saves (8-4).
• Gabby Sansone would be the difference maker for WNE, picking up three points on the day.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will travel back to western Massachusetts but will not be at home for their next contest. They will be on the road, under the lights, at Westfield State University on October 1, 2025, at 7:00 PM.