Larochelle’s Last Minute Goal Gives Field Hockey 2-1 Win, Wexler Comes Away with 12 Saves

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (October 13, 2021)- A goal with 40 seconds left to play in regulation from senior Ali Larochelle gave Western New England the 2-1 win over the hosting Smith College Pioneers on Wednesday. Larochelle nets her fifth goal of the season and ninth career goal as a Golden Bear to give WNE the victory. 

Records:

• Western New England: 7-4 (2-2 CCC)
• Smith College: 4-9 (2-3 NEWMAC)

How it Happened:
Smith College got off to an early start on the Golden Bears as Grace Moorhead tallied her fourth goal of the season for the Pioneers just three minutes into the contest. Moorhead took a pass from teammate Elena Korinek and took a shot past GK Zoey Wexler and into the net to give Smith the early 1-0 lead. The Pioneers held the edge in shots after the first quarter 7-0, while they took six penalty corners to Western New England's none. Wexler kept the Golden Bears in the game early, coming up with five first quarter saves. 

Western New England would take the first shot on goal in the second quarter as Ali Larochelle would be stopped by GK Channy Cornell. Western New England would put their first penalty corner together six minutes into the second quarter while Taylor Klesyk was able to take a shot on goal following the PC, though Cornell would deny the Golden Bears chance. At the half the Pioneers would lead 10-2 in shots, while both goalkeepers Zoey Wexler made three second half saves, and Cornell came away with two. 

WNE would find their scoring game in the third quarter coming out of the break. Wexler would continue to maintain the pipes for the Golden Bears, coming away with two early saves to keep the Pioneers at bey. With just 16 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the Golden Bears would find goal. Off a penalty corner sent in by Carly Anna-Barba, the Golden Bears saw the ball deflect around inside the arch before eventual goal scorer Emily Campbell would bounce on the loose ball and send it into the back of the net to tie the game at one. Both teams took two shots in the quarter, while WNE sent in the lone goal of the quarter. 

The Golden Bears opened the fourth quarter with much of the possession, being awarded with three penalty corners in a 1:08 span, though two shots by the Golden Bears would whistle wide of the net, nullifying any chances. With just two minutes to play in the contest, Smith's goal scorer Grace Moorhead would take a shot on goal that would find its way to Zoey Wexler and deflect off Wexler and away from the net, giving Wexler her 12^th save of the game, a season high. With just 40 seconds to go in the game, Ali Larochelle would find the ball inside the arch and make a move past a defender before shooting the ball into the back of the net to give Western New England the 2-1 lead. Larochelle grabs her fifth goal of the season for WNE. With little time left, Smith would look to take advantage of one final penalty corner, though the Golden Bears defense would not allow the chance and Western New England would walk away with the 2-1 win in non-conference action. 

Inside the Numbers: 

• Ali Larochelle's last minute goal send the Golden Bears to victory. WNE has now won five non-conference games this season in seven attempts. 
• GK Zoey Wexler came away with a season high 12 saves for the Golden Bears in the win. Wexler allowed a goal on the game's first shot but stopped the next 12 en route to a win for Western New England.
• The Golden Bears have beaten Smith College two times in a row after falling in their previous six matchups. WNE took the OT win in 2019 3-2 from Golden Bears Stadium. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears return home after a mini two game road trip as they will take on Nichols College (7-7, 0-3 CCC) in CCC action from Golden Bear Stadium on Saturday, October 16 at 1:00 pm. 
• Smith College meets WPI on the same date for a NEWMAC match.