Vitka Collects Nine Points in 17-5 CCC Quarterfinal Win over UNE

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 30, 2022) – The Western New England women's lacrosse team, seeded as the number three seed in the CCC women's lacrosse tournament, hosted the number six seeded Nor'easters from the University of New England on Saturday afternoon from Golden Bear Stadium, taking down UNE by a final score of 17-5, sending WNE to the semifinals on Wednesday, May 4. 

Records:

• #3 Western New England: 13-5
• #6 University of New England: 4-13

How it Happened:

The University of New England was defeated in the previous matchup this season at Golden Bear Stadium by a final score of 16-8, though the Nor'easters would come out and open with the game's first goal to give the six seed a 1-0 lead. Nicole Corriveau would take the ball right to goal and fire a shot into the back of the net that beat Faith Graveline to put the Nor'easters on top. It took over ten minutes for the Golden Bears to register their first goal of the contest as Samantha Vitka would light the lamp while down a player to even the score with 4:39 remaining in the first quarter. The two teams would battle until the horn sounded to end the quarter, with the score remaining tied at one after one. WNE came away with nine shots to open the first 15 minutes of play, while UNE shot four times towards goal. 

The two teams would combine for nine goals in the second quarter of action as Vitka would open the scoring to give Western New England their first lead of the contest. Vitka's unassisted tally to give the Golden Bears a lead would only last for 20 seconds before the Nor'easters were able to come away with a free position shot goal as Kelsey Hartigan would find twine for UNE to again even the score, this time at two all. Western New England would spin the tires on the offensive end, scoring the next three goals in 24 seconds. While up a player, Kylie Buchanan would net a free position goal for the Golden Bears to return the lead to WNE. Liz Mazza would pick up her first goal of the afternoon just 13 seconds after the Buchanan tally to extend the Golden Bears lead. Western New England's three consecutive goals would be capped off by another Samantha Vitka tally, who tallied the first three of six goals for WNE in the contest. The University of New England would fight back, scoring the next two goals in response to the small run the Golden Bears put on. The Nor'easters got production from their bench as Morgan White would find the back of the net twice for UNE to send the Golden Bears lead back to just a single goal with still ten minutes to play in the quarter. The scoring would slow down, seeing just two additional goals in the final ten minutes of the quarter, both belonging to WNE. With 6:32 remaining, Liz Mazza would race past the Nor'easter defenders and take a shot that skipped off the ground and past Madison Bruzzese while Madisyn Crotta was able to use her quick speed to get through a crowd in front of the goal to give Western New England a 7-4 lead after 30 minutes of play. WNE would again outshoot the Nor'easters, this time by a 13-4 margin. 

Western New England would dominate the third quarter scoring seven tallies to UNE's one. Ally Ferraro would get on the board for the first time on the afternoon just a minute into the quarter on an assist from Kylie Buchanan to extend WNE's lead to four. The Golden Bears found the back of the net four time in a four-minute span to jump out to a 11-4 lead. Ally Hill, Hannah Jarvis, and Madisyn Crotta would all find twine for the Golden Bears in the sequence. The Nor'easters would come away with the next goal in the contest when Kelsey Hartigan scored an assisted marker with 4:37 to play in the third quarter, scratching at the Golden Bears now six goal advantage. WNE would finish the quarter with the final three goals as Crotta, Vitka, and Hill would credit goals. Emmy Burns would get on the scoresheet on an assist in the quarter for WNE. UNE could only come away with two shots in the quarter, while WNE shot 15 times towards goal and picked up eight ground balls. 

Western New England would put the game away in the fourth quarter, scoring the only three goals. The Golden Bears saw Samantha Vitka take over in the quarter, scoring two goals, on assists from Liz Mazza and Mia Celentano while Nora Farmer scored her second career collegiate goal on a free position chance with time expiring in the contest. Western New England would pull out a 17-5 win over the Nor'easters, advancing to the CCC Semifinal round on Wednesday, May 5. 

Inside the Crease:

• Samantha Vitka led the charge for the Golden Bears scoring a career high nine points in the win (6 G, 3 A). The senior took nine shots, putting eight on goal, while collecting ten draw controls for WNE. 
• Senior Madisyn Crotta came away with three goals on the afternoon taking five shots, four on goal. Crotta also came away with one ground ball in the win. 
• Melissa Shanteler picked up six of the Golden Bears 33 ground balls, a team high, WNE caused 16 turnovers in the contest. 
• Western New England goalkeeping made seven saves on the afternoon as Faith Graveline collected four saves while Emily Lake made three saves in relief. 
• The Nor'easters were led by Madison Bruzzese, who made 17 saves on the afternoon. Both Kelsey Hartigan and Morgan White scored two goals each for UNE. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears travel to second seeded Endicott College on Wednesday, May 4 for the CCC semifinal round. The Gulls took the season matchup by a final score of 17-13. 
• UNE's season comes to a close with a 4-13 record.