Box Score WESTFIELD, Mass. (October 22, 2026) – The Western New England field hockey team bounced back from a Tuesday loss to knock down the Owls of Westfield State University on Thursday night, behind a goal from junior Kayla Surprenant and five saves and the sixth shutout of the season from junior goalkeeper Alex Tardugno in a 1-0 victory. 

Records:

• Western New England: 9-5
• Westfield State University: 11-2

How it Happened:

First Quarter:

• The Owls opened the game with the first chance when Lillianna Atkins tested Alex Tardugno, who was up to the task. Tardugno kept the Owls quiet after Tessa Luke took a shot on goal five minutes later, keeping the score level. 
• Tania Evans had the first shot for the Golden Bears late in the opening quarter, though the shot was blocked, keeping the Golden Bears off the scoreboard. Neither team could find the back of the net in the opening 15 minutes of play as the game remained tied at the end of the first frame. 

Second Quarter:

• The first action of the second quarter came nearly ten minutes in when Gemma Kennedy registered a blocked shot, as the two teams battled for possession, while both defenses started the opening half strong to keep each team off the scoreboard.
• Westfield State earned the first penalty corner of the game, coming with 1:42 remaining in the opening half, which resulted in a shot, but luckily for the Golden Bears, the shot sailed wide of the goal. 
• Western New England had a flurry of chances following the corner from the Owls as Mikayla Mrzywka's breakaway chance was denied, while a follow-up chance from Maddie Ripley was taken out of the air by Westfield's Eliana Kaplan. The Golden Bears continued to chip away and scored the first goal of the game when Kayla Surprenant swept the ball into the back of the net, giving the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. Surprenant picked up her second goal of the season. 
• WNE outshot the Owls 5-2 in the second quarter overall and took the one-goal lead heading into the second half. 

Third Quarter:

• Western New England came out firing in the opening three minutes of the quarter, earning the first penalty corner of the contest and generating a pair of shots, one from Jenna Nigro and the other from Abigail Petrini, but the Golden Bears could not double their lead. Maddie Ripley had a chance on goal that was denied by WSU's Olivia Labrie with 12:12 to go in the quarter. 
• Western New England continued to dominate much of the offensive attack, with Ripley leading the way, but the Blue and Gold could not extend their lead. 
• The Owls did not get their first shot of the quarter until 1:23 remaining in the quarter, when Nola Conley tested Tardugno, who continued her impressive performance between the pipes to keep the Golden Bears ahead 1-0 after 45 minutes of play, 

Fourth Quarter:

• The Golden Bears had another good start to a quarter, earning a penalty corner early on, resulting in a shot from Kamryn Miller, though saved by Labrie, who was up to six saves in the contest. 
• Alex Tardugno made another save for her fifth of the night on a shot from Alyssa Reynolds.
• Western New England was able to hold off a late push by the Owls and come away with a 1-0 win on the road. 

Inside the Lines:

• Kayla Surprenant's second goal of the season was the difference-maker in the victory, her first career game-winning goal. 
• Alex Tardugno came up with five saves and another shutout this season, her sixth of the season. 
• WNE outshot Westfield State 16-7 in the game and 9-5 on goal. 
• The Golden Bears have won their last eight games over the Owls all-time. WNE has won three straight on the road over WSU. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Seeding in the Conference of New England Tournament is on the line on Saturday, October 24 at 4:30 PM from Golden Bear Stadium when Western New England hosts the University of New England.