Men's Soccer Falls to Undefeated Western Connecticut State

Springfield, Mass. (September 20, 2022) - The WNE Golden Bears returned home looking to take down the undefeated Western Connecticut State Wolves. After winning their first conference game on Saturday, WNE was eager to continue the solid play.

Records:

• Western New England: 4-3-1 (1-0-0)
• Western Connecticut State: 8-0-0 (1-0-0)

How it Happened:

As the rain began to drizzle down on the players, the whistle blew to start the game. The Golden Bears looked hungry for a goal early as they took possession and made an early move for the game's first goal. Mike Milazzo took a shot during the fourth minute that would challenge WCSU GK Zachary Benson. Benson made the save cleanly. The ball movement would play side to side as the game continued. Kent Eannarino would shoot the ball in the ninth minute, but it would sail wide of the net. Then, in the 19th minute, Erik Lorent would challenge WNE GK Roger Leland for the first time in this game. Leland was equal to the task. WCSU would go for goal again in the 23rd minute, but it would not make its way to the net. WCSU would get another scoring opportunity in the 36th minute when Eduardo Vargas put a shot on net, but Leland would bat it out of the air and out of bounds. Western Connecticut State would keep the pressure on WNE and keep getting opportunities. 

It would all come together in the 45th minute. Right before the whistle for halftime sounded, Eduardo Vargas' corner kick would find Jordan Dacosta in the middle of the penalty box. Dacosta would lunge forward and head the ball right past Leland and into the back of the WNE net. That got WCSU on the board, making the score 1-0. The first half came to an end shortly after the goal. WCSU had seven shots during the first half to WNE's one. Leland made two of three possible saves, and Benson made one save on the one shot on net. WCSU also had more corner kicks that WNE, with six going to the Wolves and two going to the Golden Bears. The fouls were even, with six fouls being called on both sides. Going into the second half, the Golden Bears trailed the Wolves by a score of 1-0.

As the second half began, the rain was still in the air, but had become more of a mist. WNE came out strong. They pushed the ball down the field, looking for the equalizer. Mike Milazzo and Jonny Clough had shots during the second half's first four minutes of play. Milazzo had two. None of the shots worried Benson, though. In the 53rd minute, the ball would find Filipe Dutra, who would control the ball, make a move and then fire a hard shot from just outside the right side of the box, across the penalty box, and into the left-hand side of the net to make the Wolves' lead 2-0. WCSU had a shot a couple of minutes later, but it was blocked. Then, Sam Riley would find himself with an opportunity on the net, but Riley sent the ball out of play. WCSU kept the foot on the pedal as George Cortes sent a shot toward the top of the net, but Leland would make the save. During the 63rd minute, Mike Riley would have WNE's best opportunity of the day as he got the ball on the left side of the penalty box and sent a rocket at the net, but just high as it slammed off the crossbar. That would be followed by Eannarino sending another shot at Leland. He would make the save. 

In the 72nd minute, Milazzo put the Golden Bears' second shot on goal at Benson, but Benson was there for his second save of the afternoon. Five minutes later, Dacosta sent a shot at the bottom center of the net, but Leland was there again to keep the deficit at two. The Golden Bears would have a couple more shooting opportunities, but they were all kept out of the net by Benson. Erik Lorent would get the last shot on Leland, and Leland would deny him once more to finish the game. The Golden Bears fell to the Wolves by a score of 2-0.

As the final whistle was blown, the Western Connecticut State Wolves would finish with 15 shots to WNE's nine. Roger Leland had a six-save game. Zachary Benson saved both shots that he faced to keep the shutout for the Wolves. Western Connecticut State had eight total corner kicks to WNE's five and finished with 16 fouls to WNE's 13.

Inside the Lines:

• The contest today saw the undefeated Western Connecticut State Wolves travel to Springfield to take on the Western New England Golden Bears.
• WCSU would get the game's first goal in the 45th minute when Jordan Dacosta headed in a corner kick from Eduardo Vargas.
• In the 53rd minute, Filipe Dutra fired a shot into the bottom left of the net to make the score 2-0.
• WCSU GK Zachary Benson made two out of two saves.
• WNE GK Roger Leland saved six out of eight shots on the goal.
• The Wolves stayed undefeated on the season with the 2-0 win over Western New England.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England will stay home for their next matchup against Nichols College on Saturday, September 24, at 11:00 am.
• Western Connecticut State will return home for a meeting with Lehman College on Thursday, September 22, at 6:00 pm.