MILTON, Mass. (October 24, 2026) – Four unanswered goals, including two from Ben Riley, propelled the Western New England University men's soccer team to a 4-1 comeback victory over Curry College on Saturday afternoon at Katz Field. Despite surrendering the opening goal on a penalty kick, the Golden Bears responded with two goals in the final seven minutes of the first half before adding two more in the second. Owen Dieterle and Tyler Lewis joined Riley on the scoresheet as Western New England earned its fifth Conference of New England (CNE) victory of the season.

Records:

Western New England: 6-5-5 (5-2-2 CNE)
Curry College: 5-9-4 (1-6-2 CNE)

How It Happened:

First Half

• Western New England established an early offensive presence, earning its first corner kick just 1:10 into the contest. The Golden Bears continued to pressure the Curry defense, with Matty Leonard having an attempt blocked in the third minute before WNE earned another corner kick just seconds later.
• The Golden Bears registered their first shot on goal at 7:26 when Tyler Lewis tested Curry goalkeeper Nicolas Morales, who made the save. Western New England quickly returned to the attack, earning another corner before Ryan Sunshine directed a header on target in the ninth minute. Morales turned away the attempt, while Sunshine had another shot blocked less than a minute later.
• WNE continued generating opportunities throughout the opening 20 minutes, including an attempt from Nigel Martin that sailed high in the 16th minute. Curry managed its first shot shortly afterward when Claudio Laquale had an attempt blocked, but the Golden Bears maintained the advantage in offensive chances.
• Despite Western New England's early pressure, Curry broke through at 22:27 when Aiden Watts converted a penalty kick to give the Colonels a 1-0 lead. The Golden Bears continued searching for an equalizer, with Lewis sending a shot wide in the 26th minute before forcing another save from Morales at 27:59.
• Curry threatened to extend its advantage late in the opening half, earning a corner kick in the 38th minute. Jacob Nance followed with a shot on goal at 38:09, but Western New England goalkeeper Brendan L'Italien made the save to keep the deficit at one.
• Just 35 seconds after L'Italien's save, Western New England found the equalizer. Dieterle scored at 38:44, bringing the Golden Bears level at 1-1 and shifting the momentum heading into the final minutes of the half.
• The Golden Bears were not finished. With two minutes remaining before halftime, Riley scored at 43:00 off an assist from Saif Shaker, giving Western New England its first lead of the afternoon at 2-1. The Golden Bears earned another corner kick in the 45th minute and carried the one-goal advantage into the break, having outshot Curry 9-3 while holding a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Second Half

• Western New England returned from halftime looking to build on its lead, with Lewis sending an attempt wide in the 48th minute. The Golden Bears earned a corner kick shortly afterward, while Curry answered with consecutive corners in the 50th minute. Neither side converted those opportunities as the score remained 2-1.
• The Golden Bears continued generating chances, with Lewis sending another attempt high in the 53rd minute. Nick Adzima followed with two opportunities of his own, placing attempts high in the 56th minute and wide in the 59th minute as WNE looked to extend its advantage.
• The complexion of the match changed at 62:16, when Curry received a red card, leaving the Colonels with 10 players for the remainder of the contest. Western New England maintained its one-goal advantage as the match entered its final 30 minutes.
• The Golden Bears began creating additional opportunities midway through the half. Riley had an attempt blocked at 74:15 before Dieterle forced a save from Morales just 10 seconds later. Jacob Dounetos followed with a corner kick, and Cole Casinghino tested Morales in the 76th minute, but the Curry goalkeeper kept the deficit at one.
• Western New England finally broke through again at 77:28, when Riley scored his second goal of the afternoon to extend the Golden Bears' lead to 3-1. The unassisted goal provided WNE with a two-goal cushion entering the final 13 minutes.
• The Golden Bears continued attacking after Riley's second goal. Dounetos sent an attempt wide in the 80th minute before Casinghino added another shot wide in the 83rd minute. Dieterle and Owen Cunneen each forced saves from Curry substitute goalkeeper Ryan McGourty in the 84th minute as Western New England kept the pressure on the Colonels.
• WNE added its fourth and final goal at 87:33, when Lewis found the back of the net to push the advantage to 4-1. The unassisted tally completed a run of four consecutive goals for the Golden Bears after they had fallen behind in the opening half.
• Western New England continued generating opportunities until the final whistle, with Cunneen recording the game's final shot on goal at 89:40. McGourty made the save, but the Golden Bears closed out the 4-1 victory after outshooting Curry 15-2 in the second half.

Key Performances:

• Riley led Western New England offensively, scoring twice on three shots, including two on goal. His first tally gave the Golden Bears a 2-1 advantage just before halftime, while his second provided an important insurance goal in the 78th minute.
• Dieterle played a significant role in the comeback, recording the equalizing goal in the 39th minute. He finished with three shots, all on goal, helping Western New England erase its early deficit and maintain offensive pressure throughout the contest.
• Lewis led all players with six shots, including three on goal, and scored the Golden Bears' fourth goal in the 88th minute. Shaker contributed the assist on Riley's first goal.
• Casinghino added three shots, including one on target, while Cunneen recorded two shots, both on goal.
• In net, L'Italien played the opening 45 minutes and made one save while allowing Curry's lone goal.
• Western New England controlled the statistical battle, finishing with a 24-5 advantage in shots and a 12-2 edge in shots on goal. The Golden Bears also earned 11 corner kicks compared with three for the Colonels. Curry's two goalkeepers combined for eight saves, with Morales recording five and McGourty adding three.

Up Next:

• Western New England returns home for its final regular-season contest on Wednesday, October 28, when the Golden Bears host the University of Hartford at 3:30 p.m. The Conference of New England matchup could serve as a preview of a potential meeting in the upcoming CNE Tournament.