Field Hockey Comes Up Short in Overtime

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 13, 2022) – The Western New England field hockey team dropped a close 5-4 decision in a back-and-forth contest all night to the visiting Connecticut College Camels on Tuesday night from Golden Bear Stadium. 

Records:

• Western New England: 2-2
• Connecticut College: 1-2

How it Happened:

Western New England would pick up the first scoring chance of the game at the 2:13 mark when Olivia Eastman came crashing towards the net with a shot, though Sophie Moniz was able to deny the Golden Bears of an early chance. Connecticut College would get on the board first when Kendall Arnold found a loose ball inside the crease, stuffing it into the back of the net to give the Camels a 1-0 lead. A quick response by the Camels would double their lead in just over 90 seconds when Connecticut College scored off a penalty corner. Kylee Quinn would make a nifty pass to Bridger McGann, who was able to double Connecticut's lead, giving the Camels a 2-0 edge. 

The Golden Bears would register a chance with five minutes remaining in the quarter when Carly-Anna Barba assisted Haley Kaczka's first career goal off a penalty corner to cut the Camels lead back down to one. The Camels came away with three shots in the opening 15 minutes while WNE came away with two. Each goalkeeper made one save each in the first quarter. 

Western New England would come out and take control of the next 15 minutes of play, picking up the game tying goal to level the score at two when Carly-Anna Barba and Taylor Klesyk both assisted on Emily Campbell's fourth goal of the season. Western New England and Connecticut College would take a 2-2 score at the end of 30 minutes of play. 

WNE would come out and quickly take a 3-2 lead, their first lead of the game, just three minutes into the third quarter when Taylor Klesyk was able to jump on a pass from Abby Burns and slide the ball into the next for her first goal of the season. 26 seconds passed before the Camels were on the scoreboard again when Chole Therrien found the back of the net for the Camels. Connecticut College's deficit and tie would not last long when Bridget McGann once again found the back of the net for CC, giving the Camels a 4-3 lead, which is how the third quarter would end. CC outshot WNE 5-2 in the quarter. 

WNE, who looked to tie the game in the fourth, got late production from their offense and were able to find goal with just over ten minutes to play in the contest when Sarah Johnston batted down a loose ball in front on another assist from Taylor Klesyk as Western New England evened the score a four all. Connecticut College put five shots up in the fourth quarter, putting one on goal, which was saved by Zoey Wexler. The two teams would need overtime to settle the contest. 

In the overtime frame, the Camels would start off with the ball and virtually did not loose it and were able to test GK Zoey Wexler, who made four OT saves, multiple times before finding the back of the net. Off a loose ball scrum in front of the net, Kendall Arnold would find Bridget McGann at the back post, who stuffed the ball twice towards Wexler, before getting one final stab at it, which ended up in the back of the net, giving Connecticut College a 5-4 win on a rainy Tuesday night. 

Around the Lines:

• WNE was ed by Taylor Klesyk, who scored a goal and added two assists for the Golden Bears in the losing effort. 
• First year Haley Kaczka scored her first career collegiate goal on the first WNE goal of the game. 
• Carly-Anna Barba collected two assists for the Golden Bears. 
• Bridget McGann knocked in three goals for Connecticut College, including the game winner to picks up the first win of the season for the Camels. 
• CC outshot WNE 19-10 in the 66 minutes of play. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE returns home on Friday, September 16 at 4:00 pm for a game with Husson University. 
• The Camels open their home schedule with Bowdoin College on Saturday, September 17 at 11:30 AM.