SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 30, 2025) – Western New England Field Hockey's Haley Kaczka and WNE Women's Soccer's Gabby Sansone have been named Golden Bear Athletes of the Week this week following outstanding efforts on the turf, earning their respective teams important Conference of New England victories. 

Kaczka found the back of the net twice for the Golden Bears in a conference game over Nichols College while also holding Springfield College to just one goal in a mid-week non-conference victory. Kaczka and the Golden Bears picked up a 3-1 win over Springfield College for their seventh straight win over the Pride, holding Springfield to one goal or less in all seven of those wins. In the win over Nichols, Kaczka found the back of the net twice, including the opening goal of the game, which stood as the game-winning goal of the contest - her fourth of the season. Kaczka also scored in the late stages of the fourth quarter to take complete control
of the game for Western New England, who handled Nichols, 5-0. Kaczka now has five goals and four assists on the season, good for 14 total points. 

Sansone helped WNE women's soccer to a pair of 2-0 wins this week, coming in a home game against Keene State College and a road Conference of New England game at Nichols College. Sansone, playing the midfield position, held KSC to no goals and just four shots on goal in the mid-week contest. Against the Bison, the WNE senior shined with her first goal of the season and added an assist, finishing the match with three points to help Western New England take an important conference victory. 

WNE field hockey plays two games this week, opening with a non-conference game against Amherst College on Wednesday, October 1, at 7:00 PM from Golden Bear Stadium, before traveling to Endicott College on Saturday, October 4, for a 1:00 PM start. 

WNE women's soccer also plays twice this week, making a stop at Westfield State University on Wednesday, October 1, at 7:00 PM before returning home for a conference game against Roger Williams University on Saturday, October 4, at 12:00 PM.