SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 8, 2025) – Western New England football wide receiver Christian Delgado and WNE women's soccer goalkeeper Ainsley Napolitano have been named Golden Bear Athletes of the Week after leading their respective teams to one win each, both coming over cross-town rival Springfield College. 

Delgado collected the game winning touchdown pass in the last seconds of Saturday afternoon's 23-22 win over the Pride of Springfield College, who had been ranked 13^th in the first d3football.com top 25 poll of the season. Delgado raced to the end zone with five seconds remaining on the clock to help Western New England come up with the one-point victory. In total, the junior wide receiver totaled two catches, none bigger than his game-winner, totaling 22 yards, and picking up his first career collegiate touchdown. The Golden Bears won the Pynchon SAW Trophy following the game for the first time in four years (2021) and now even the SAW Trophy game at six wins a piece between Springfield College and Western New England. 

Napolitano helped guide the WNE women's soccer team to just its fourth win over Springfield College all-time in their 21^st meeting since 2004 and first win since 2021. Napolitano stopped all four shots on goal by the Pride, including a diving save to open the second half to keep the Pride from scoring. The junior transfer was not done there on the weekend, picking up nine saves against Clark University where the blue and gold would come away with a 1-1 draw against a high-powered Cougars offense. Napolitano made six opening half saves and finished off the game with three saves in the second half to clinch the draw for Western New England women's soccer. The Andover, Massachusetts native now has 20 saves over three starts for WNE this season, dotting a .870% save percentage and a 1.00 Goals Against Average to begin the season. 

WNE Football is back in action on the road this week to take on Salve Regina University on Saturday, September 13 at 12:00 PM.

WNE Women's Soccer has a pair of home games this week, beginning on Tuesday, September 9 at 4:00 PM, welcoming Union College to Suprenant Field followed by the conference opener of the season against the University of New England on Saturday, September 12 at 12:00 PM.