Overtime Tally Pushes Union Past Western New England

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (September 27, 2021) – The Western New England women's soccer team got a late tally to end the first half but saw the Union College Dutchwomen win the game in the second overtime period, to down the Golden Bears in non-conference action. 

Records:

• Western New England: 5-4 (1-1 CCC)
• Union College: 3-4-1 (1-1 Liberty League) 

How it Happened: 

After their game was postponed back on September 15 due to impending weather, the Golden Bears made the travel out to Union College to take on the Dutchwomen where the Dutchwomen would open the scoring in the first 45 minutes of play. Following a throw in from the Dutchwomen, senior Bella Dworkin found a loose ball just inside the box and took a right footed shot that sailed up and just under the crossbar and into the goal, giving Union the 1-0 lead. 

Following the goal from Dworkin, the Golden Bears would see their chances towards goal as Lindsay Reidy took a shot that was saved by GK Abby Mitty for the Dutchwomen. The Golden Bears would continue to shoot the ball, as they have done all season long and would be rewarded with a corner kick with 35 seconds to play in the half. Following the attempted corner kick, the ball bounced around inside the box where first year Kyleigh Wheaton took a strike up and over the outstretched reach of Mitty and into the goal, knotting the game up at one. Wheaton collects her first career collegiate goal with the strike to even the game. At the end of the first half Union College outshot Western New England 5-4, while they also outdueled the Golden Bears 5-1 in corner kicks. GK Molly McLaughlin came away with one save on two shots on goal in the half, while Mitty stooped three out of four shots for Union. 

The Dutchwomen would come away with the first two shots in the second half of play. Dworkin and Emma Schleimer took shots that missed the net. The Golden Bears would respond with the next two shots of their own when Danielle McCarthy and Summer Hathaway ripped shots from outside the box, though both shots sailing high above the goal. The Dutchwomen got the better of the play in the final ten minutes of play as Schleimer and Sam Friedman came in with shots on goal, though McLaughlin was up to the task to keep the game tied at one. 

McLaughlin would come through with one final save in the 88^th minute when Freidman took a shot towards the bottom middle of the goal, though it was collected by McLaughlin, holding the Dutchwomen without a goal in the half. Union would outshoot WNE 8-4 in the second half, while goalkeeper Molly McLaughlin made the only saves in the half, coming up with five to keep Union off the board and send the game into overtime. 

The Golden Bears would see action in overtime for the first time on the road, though second time overall this season after falling to Western Connecticut State 2-1 in double OT in the third game of the season. The Dutchwomen saw the better of the play in the first OT period, taking five shots towards goal with two shots being on target. McLaughlin was again able to take control of the ball and keep the Golden Bears in the game as Western New England was out shot 5-0 in the first OT period. Western New England would get their only shot of the overtime period from Allison Bruehwiler as she stepped into the box and took a right footed boot that was saved by Mitty on a dive to prevent WNE from walking away with the win. Following the save, Union traveled down the field and was awarded with a corner kick and took advantage with less than a minute to go in the game. The ball was lifted into the air off the corner kick and headed straight into the goal by Bella Dworkin to win the game with 34 seconds reaming. Dworkin picks up her second of the game, as WNE drops their second overtime game of the season. 

Inside the Lines:

• First Year Kyleigh Wheaton was the lone goal scorer for the Golden Bears in the double overtime loss. Wheaton picks up her first collegiate goal and point as a member of the Golden Bears. 
• Bella Dworkin netted both goals for Union College, picking up her first two goals of the season. Dworkin now has 11 career goals with the Dutchwomen, after collecting six in the 2019 season. 
• The Dutchwomen outshot the Golden Bears 23-9 in the game, while outshooting WNE 18-5 in the final 64:26 of the contest. GK Molly McLaughlin came away with a season high ten saves in the loss for Western New England while Abby Mitty came away with four saves, three in the first 45 minutes of play in the game. 
• Union College takes the win as the Golden Bears have yet to beat the Dutchwomen in their programs' history. Wheaton's goal was the first goal the Golden Bears have ever scored against the Dutchwomen after previously being outscored 14-0 in four games. The last matchup between the two schools came on October 9, 2001, from Suprenant Field. 

Up Next on the Schedule: 

• Western New England will be in action on Saturday October 2 at 12:00 as they host CCC opponent Suffolk University as part of Western New England University's "homecoming weekend". 
• Union College will start a three-game road trip in Hartford, Connecticut on Wednesday, September 29 when they meet the Bantams of Trinity College for a 7:00 pm start.