EAST BOSTON, Mass. (November 4, 2026) – Ryan Sunshine scored 7:08 into overtime to lift the Western New England University men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Suffolk University in the conference semifinals Wednesday night at East Boston Memorial Park. The dramatic result sends the Golden Bears back to the conference championship game for the first time since 2023, with Sunshine providing the decisive moment and the defense securing the shutout.

Records:

Western New England: 8-5-6 (6-2-2 conference)

Suffolk University: 10-4-5 (6-1-3 conference)

How It Happened:

First Half:

• Western New England set an aggressive tone early, putting pressure on the Suffolk defense and generating the first two attempts of the contest through Tyler Lewis. His attempt in the 10th minute was turned aside by Rams goalkeeper Nathan Harlow.
• The Golden Bears continued to find opportunities through the opening half. Owen Dieterle sent a shot wide in the 16th minute, while Lewis tested Harlow again in the 22nd minute, forcing another save.
• Suffolk began to find its footing midway through the half, earning its first corner kick in the 27th minute and putting attempts on goal during a stretch of pressure. Brendan L'Italien and the WNE defense kept the match scoreless.
• WNE regained an attacking push late in the half, with Saif Shaker forcing a save in the 44th minute before Jake Thibodeau sent a final attempt over the crossbar. The teams entered halftime locked in a scoreless match, with WNE holding a 7-3 advantage in shots.

Second Half:

• The pace remained even after the break, with both sides creating chances. L'Italien made a save on Javen Ironside in the 51st minute, and Harlow answered less than a minute later by denying a Dieterle attempt.
• WNE continued to work for the breakthrough as the half progressed. Nick Adzima put an attempt toward goal in the 59th minute, while Thibodeau tested Harlow in the 71st minute.
• The Golden Bears produced their strongest sustained attacking stretch in the closing quarter-hour of regulation. Lewis had back-to-back attempts stopped in the 76th minute, and Thibodeau followed with another opportunity as WNE pressed for the go-ahead goal.
• Suffolk remained dangerous late, forcing L'Italien into a save on Mohamed Mehaya in the 87th minute after another attempt went wide. Neither side found the net, sending the conference semifinal to overtime after 90 minutes.

• The match remained on a knife's edge in the extra period. Lewis put a shot on target in the 92nd minute, while Suffolk nearly ended it moments later when Dylan Trachtenberg's attempt struck the woodwork in the 95th minute.
• With the conference final within reach, Sunshine delivered the decisive play at 97:08. Nick Adzima set up Sunshine, who finished for his second career goal and sent the Golden Bears into celebration with the 1-0 victory. The goal capped a determined effort in a tightly contested match and secured WNE's return to the conference finals for the first time since 2023.

Key Performances:

• Ryan Sunshine scored the game-winning goal at 97:08 for his second career goal, converting Nick Adzima's assist.
• Adzima recorded the assist on the overtime winner, giving WNE the decisive connection in the match's final moments.
• Brendan L'Italien made three saves to earn the shutout, including important stops as Suffolk pushed late in the second half.
• Tyler Lewis led the Golden Bears with six shots, putting five on target and repeatedly challenging Harlow.
• Western New England finished with a 15-10 advantage in shots and a 9-3 edge in shots on goal. Harlow made eight saves for Suffolk, while WNE limited the Rams to three shots on target.

Up Next:

The Golden Bears advance to the conference championship game, where they will face the Roger Williams University Hawks at 1 p.m. The appearance marks WNE's first trip to the conference final since 2023.