Golden Bears Blanked by Smith, 3-0

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (September 27, 2018) – The Western New England University women's soccer team conceded a pair of first half goals in an eventual 3-0 loss to Smith College on Thursday afternoon in non-conference action.

Top Performers
Junior Reilly Sullivan (Keene, N.H.), sophomore Peyton McBride (Manchester, Conn.) and freshman Zufan Bazzano (Great Barrington, Mass.) all scored for the Pioneers, while junior Julia Donovan (Waltham, Mass.) and freshman Naomi Falkenberg (Sutton, Mass.) split the goalkeeping duties and made four saves each in a combined shutout performance.

Western New England sophomore midfielder Bee Murphy (Monson, Mass.) accounted for three of the Golden Bears' nine shots on goal.

Game Review
Smith pulled ahead just 6:16 into the contest, when sophomore Kelly McKenna (Wilton, Conn.) gained control of a loose ball and found Bazzano for the game's opening goal.  

The Pioneers doubled their advantage at the 25:30 mark, as McBride headed home a corner kick taken by Sullivan.

Smith tacked on one more goal in the 58^th minute to extend the final margin to 3-0. Sullivan found the back of the net with a shot that she lofted over the Golden Bear defense.

Notes
• After being outshot 12-3 in the first half, the Golden Bears held an 11-5 advantage over the final 45 minutes of play.
• Western New England was held without a goal for just the second time this season.

Up Next
Both teams will be back in action on Saturday, as Western New England (4-4-1) travels to Salve Regina and Smith (6-4) faces WPI in Worcester.