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MSOC 9.27
7
Winner Western New Eng. WNE (3-6-0, 2-1-0)
0
Nichols NIC (1-5-3, 0-2-1)
Winner
Western New Eng. WNE
(3-6-0, 2-1-0)
7
Final
0
Nichols NIC
(1-5-3, 0-2-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western New Eng. WNE 5 2 7
Nichols NIC 0 0 0

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Ben Riley’s Shining Moment: Riley Records Hat Trick in WNE’s 7-0 Conference Victory

DUDLEY, Mass. (September 27, 2025) – WNE was in Dudley, Massachusetts, for a conference showdown with the Bison of Nichols College. The men's team would put five shots into the goal in the first half and place two more in the goal in the second half to wrap up a 7-0 WNE victory, highlighted by a Ben Riley hat trick completed in the 53rd minute.

Records:

  • Western New England: 3-6-0 (2-1-0)
  • Nichols College: 1-5-3 (0-2-1)

How it Happened:

First Half

  • WNE started Braylon Casinghino in net, with Anthony Grguric in net for the Bison.
  • Immediately, WNE was pushing forward, looking for a goal. They got caught offside a few times.
  • Owen Dieterle and Tyler Lewis then had shots saved before WNE opened their day of goals.
  • Ben Riley scored in the 16th minute of the game. WNE led 1-0.
  • Then, after Nichols gained some momentum with two shots and one on goal, Ben Riley scored a second goal in the 20th minute to give WNE a 2-0 lead.
  • The teams traded shots back and forth for a little while, with Nichols having a few more chances.
  • Then, after a WNE corner kick, the ball would fall to Jayden Montagna, who found the back of the net, and WNE led 3-0.
  • Twenty-nine seconds later, Tyler Lewis would score WNE's fourth goal of the first half. Brennan Johnson was credited with the goal. WNE led 4-0 in the 31st minute.
  • The goalies each had to make a save in the final 14 minutes of the first half.
  • However, with nine seconds left in the first half, Shay O'Neill scored his first goal of the season. WNE led 5-0 at halftime.
  • The first half statistics showed WNE leading in shots (13-5), shots on goal (9-3), and corner kicks (4-1). Nichols had more saves, 4-3, and fouls, 6-5.

Second Half:

  • The second half saw WNE steal the show even more, but not as much as the first half.
  • Nichols had the first shot of the second half, but it was Ben Riley in the 53rd minute scoring his third goal to secure the hat trick. Owen Dieterle was credited with the assist. WNE led 6-0.
  • The teams traded shots and possession for the majority of the second half.
  • Casinghino and Grguric each made a few saves.
  • Then, in the 87th minute, Nichols fouled WNE inside the penalty box, and WNE had a penalty kick.
  • Nick Edward took the penalty kick and scored. WNE led 7-0 in the 87th minute.
  • WNE would hold on to the shutout and get the 7-0 conference victory in Dudley on Saturday afternoon.

Inside the Lines:

  • WNE defeated Nichols College 7-0.
  • Ben Riley scored the first two goals in the 16th and 20th minutes of the game. Both goals were unassisted.
  • Jayden Montagna scored the third WNE goal in the 30th minute. That goal was unassisted, as well.
  • Tyler Lewis scored the fourth goal of the first half in the 31st minute off an assist from Brennan Johnson.
  • Shay O'Neill capped off an exciting first forty-five minutes for WNE with a 45th-minute goal. That goal was unassisted.
  • Ben Riley finished off the hat trick in the 53rd minute, with a goal assisted by Owen Dieterle.
  • Nick Edward scored the seventh WNE goal of the game from a penalty kick in the 87th minute.
  • WNE led the final team statistics in shots 25-9, shots on goal 14-4, and corner kicks 6-2. Nichols College had more saves, 7-4, and fouls, 11-5.
Coach's Corner:
Head coach Devin O'Neill and hat-trick scorer Ben Riley answered questions from the Sports Information Department after the contest. When asked for a comment on today's game, O'Neill stated, "Great win for the team today. Their intensity and physical toughness was a big part of our success today." O'Neill was also asked about his thoughts on the hat trick from Riley today. "Ben played with great intensity and bravery. He combined his physical effort with great skill and was a real force offensively today."
Ben Riley was asked for a comment on how it feels to get Ben's first WNE hat trick and how it feels to get another conference victory with the team. "It was super nice, obviously a great feeling to get a hat trick, more importantly nice to see our team's hard work paying off. Definitely a step in the right direction getting the 3 points. Our team is very focused day by day on improving and focusing on one game at a time and as a team, I think it showed today. Excited to see where we can go!" Riley mentioned.

Up Next on the Schedule:

  • WNE will return to Suprenant Field for their next game, hosting the United States Coast Guard Academy on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 4:00 PM.
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