Women’s Lacrosse Take Down Eastern Connecticut as Vitka Collects Her 100th Career Point

MANSFIELD, Conn. (April 21, 2022) – The Western New England women's lacrosse team battled with the Eastern Connecticut State Warriors on the road, outscoring them 5-3 in the first quarter, and 7-3 in the second, finishing with an 18-12 win.

Records:

• Western New England: 11-4
• Eastern Connecticut State: 7-5

How it Happened:

After about three minutes of action, The Golden Bears hit the scoreboard first from a goal by Reilly Miller assisted by Samantha Vitka. Their next goal did not come long after, on a free position shot drawn by Emmy Burns to give WNE a 2-0 lead. Halfway through the first quarter, the Warriors got one to find the back of the net and make it a 2-1 game. The Golden Bears reacted with three straight goals. Hannah Jarvis threw one in, plus one from Ally Ferraro less than 30 seconds later. The last WNE goal was shot in by Vitka at the 4:38 mark. Eastern Conn made it on the scoreboard in a man up opportunity proceeding a yellow card on Hannah Richard. They picked up another point before the conclusion of the first on a free position for a 5-3 score. Faith Graveline made three saves in the first quarter, and the Golden Bears had nine shots to the Warriors seven.

An early free position attempt, taking by Liz Mazza for the Golden Bears, quickly put another point on the scoreboard to start of the second quarter. The goals were back-and-forth between the teams until seven minutes remaining in the half when the Golden Bears hit the net four times in a row. Vitka hit two, reaching her 100-point mark in her career, and then Miller hit two more for a 11-5 advantage over the Warriors. Eastern Conn. got another goal before the half, and WNE answered right back with one shot in by Kylie Buchanan to now give them a 12-6 lead after one half of play. The Golden Bears had 14 shots compared to the Warriors seven in the second quarter.

In the third quarter, The Warriors were the first to score. They goals remained even throughout. Mazza had two more free position goals and Ferraro knocked another one into the back of the net. Eastern Conn had the last two goals of the quarter but still trailed 15-9. Graveline had three more saves this quarter for Western New England. They only had four shots while the Warriors took seven.

The last quarter of action was also even in goals, but a well built-up lead gave the game to the Golden Bears. Miller, Mia Celentano, and Vitka would all net goals for WNE in the quarter. Eastern Conn. would hit the net last on the game but ultimately lost to the Golden Bears with a final score of 18-12. Graveline added another save in the fourth, and WNE had 12 more shots towards goal, totaling 39 for the game.

Around the Edges:

• The Golden Bears goalkeeper Faith Graveline had nine saves on 21 shots, playing the entirety of the game.
• Reilly Miller came away with five goals for nine shots, six on goal, and had one ground ball.
• Samantha Vitka scored four goals and three assist while collecting her 100^th career point, joining Liz Mazza and Hannah Jarvis who also scored their 100^th career point this season. She was 4-4 on shots and shots on goal while grabbing three ground balls.
• Liz Mazza and Ally Ferraro head multi-point efforts in the win. 
• WNE won 24 draw controls, was successful in 16-20 clears, and collected 27 ground balls. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears have another road game Saturday April 23 for another conference play against the Gordon College Fighting Scots at 1 p.m.
• Eastern Connecticut will be traveling to UMass-Dartmouth on April 23 also for a 1 p.m. game.