SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 3, 2026) – Behind two goals and six assists from Lyndsey Bunnell, the Western New England women's lacrosse team earned an 11-8 win over the visiting University of Hartford Hawks on Friday evening from Golden Bear Stadium, earning the first-ever victory over Hartford in program history. 

Records:

• Western New England: 7-5, 3-2 CNE
• University of Hartford: 6-5, 3-2 CNE

How it Happened:

First Quarter:

• After back-and-forth action to open the game, which saw WNE's Emily Picolla make a pair of saves in the opening 1:30 of the quarter, Lina Eves had the opening chance of the game for the WNE offense, a shot that went high of the cage. 
• After Allison Cyr caused a turnover, the Golden Bears moved down the field and picked up their first goal of the game when Lyndsey Bunnell scored her 15^th of the season, giving the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. The Golden Bears had their second of the game when Carlie Francis picked up a free position strike, her 21^st of the season, giving the Blue and Gold a 2-0 lead. 
• Picolla came up big for the Golden Bears in the opening 15 minutes, making five saves to keep the Hawks off the scoreboard. 

Second Quarter:

• Western New England had the first goal of the second quarter, needing just 1:13 of the frame to find the back of the net when Sydney Miles scored while a player down on an assist from Lyndsey Bunnell, giving the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead. WNE added to their lead before Hartford needed to take a timeout when Gabby Sliwka netted her fifth goal of the season, seeing Bunnell register another assist, giving the Golden Bears a 4-0 lead over the Hawks. 
• Following a timeout from Hartford, the Golden Bears got another save from Emily Piccola, keeping the Hawks off the scoreboard. The Hawks wouldn't be held off the scoreboard much longer, coming away with a goal at the 8:48 mark of the quarter when Kate Zonin tallied for the 40^th time this season for the Hawks. Western New England responded in 47 seconds, scoring a player up as Ella Henry notched her 26^th goal of the season, putting the Golden Bears in front, 5-1. 
• The 5:15 mark of the second quarter brought another goal for the Golden Bears, seeing Henry notch her second straight for WNE, extending the lead to five, 6-1. The Golden Bears continued to score as Bunnell added another tally, giving the Golden Bears a six-goal lead. Hartford responded with a goal with 2:40 remaining in the quarter, only to be answered by Samantha Montecalvo with 25 seconds remaining in the quarter, on an assist from Valerie DuVal, her first point of the season, giving WNE an 8-2 halftime lead. 
• The Golden Bears had six of eight goals scored in the second quarter and had the 8-6 shots advantage. Emily Picolla made three saves for Western New England. Hartford turned the ball over five times in the second quarter. 

Third Quarter:

• The Golden Bears opened the scoring in the third quarter when Ella Henry continued to find twine, picking up the ninth goal of the game, and seeing the Golden Bears take a seven-goal lead, 9-2. Henry couldn't miss the twine in the game, adding the 10^th of the game for WNE at the 6:13 mark of the quarter on an assist from Ella Nish, giving Western New England a 10-2 lead. 
• Hartford ended the scoring run, answering 1:01 after Western New England's tenth goal, when Sara Costa picked up her 24^th of the season for the Hawks. Hartford ripped off three goals in a row to get back in the game, trailing 10-5 after the third quarter. 
• The Hawks had a 10-5 shots advantage in the third quarter and won five of six draw controls. Emily Picolla continued to impress between the pipes, coming away with four saves. 

Fourth Quarter:

• Hartford opened the scoring in the fourth quarter to get back within four, seeing Sara Costa score just 1:46 into the frame, scoring the Hawks' sixth goal of the game. Western New England was able to respond with a goal when Valerie DuVal netted her first career goal, giving the Golden Bears an 11-6 lead. 
• The Hawks had the next two goals, as Kate Zonin and Katie Graham registered tallies for the Hawks to get the University of Hartford within three, 11-8. 
• The Golden Bears held off the Hawks in the final minutes of the game, picking up their first-ever victory over Hartford, winning by a final score of 11-8. 

Inside the Lines:

• Lyndsey Bunnell led the WNE offense with eight points, scoring twice and adding six assists. Ella Henry had four goals on nine shots, putting five shots on goal. 
• Valerie DuVal picked up her first career collegiate points in the win, scoring a goal and adding an assist. 
• Carlie Francis, Ella Nish, Gabby Sliwka, Sydney Miles, and Samantha Montecalvo all had a hand in the offense. 
• WNE was outshot 32-27, but had the 15-14 shots on goal edge. 
• Emily Picolla came up with 13 saves in the victory. 
• Kate Zonin led the Hawks with four goals, taking seven shots on goal. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears travel to Suffolk University on Wednesday, April 8, at 7:00 PM to continue Conference of New England action.