Field Hockey Rolls to 3-0 Win over Westfield State

WESTFIELD, Mass. (September 22, 2022) – The Western New England field hockey team was able to take a win back to Springfield on Thursday night, defeating the Owls of Westfield State University by a final score of 3-0 from Alumni Field. The Golden Bears saw production from Sarah Johnston, Olivia Eastman and Taylor Klesyk, while Zoey Wexler came away with five saves. 

Records:

• Western New England: 4-2
• Westfield State: 5-3

How it Happened:

Western New England needed little time in the first quarter to jump to an early 1-0 lead after Sarah Johnston would send a pass to teammate Olivia Eastman, who was able to puck the ball past Owls goalkeeper Paige Reisman, giving the Golden Bears the early 1-0 lead. The lead would hold through the first 15 minutes of play after GK Zoey Wexler saw just one shot on goal by Westfield State in the opening quarter. Western New England would outshoot the Owls 3-2, though Westfield State would come away with the advantage in penalty corners, 3-1. 

Western New England's offense would push to find the games next goal as the teams worked through the second quarter. Chances by Sarah Johnston, Carly-Anna Barba, Haley Kaczka, and Olivia Eastman would all be shut down by Paige Reisman for Westfield State. Western New England would be awarded with a penalty corner with ten minutes to play in the quarter and would knock home their second of the game. After an initial save was made, 2021 CCC Rookie of the Year Sarah Johnston knocked in her third goal of the season for the Golden Bears to extend Western New England's lead to 2-0. The Owls would hold WNE at bay from there, as Westfield would allow nine Golden Bears shots to Westfield's three. The Golden Bears took seven penalty corners in the second quarter while the Owls came through with four. Zoey Wexler made two additional saves in the quarter, while Westfield's Paige Reisman made seven saves on eight shots on goal in the quarter. The Golden Bears would take their two-goal lead into the second half. 

Neither team would find the back of the net in the third quarter as WNE would take five total shots, two on goal in the quarter, while Westfield would shoot just twice towards goal in the third, putting one on goal, which was saved by Wexler. 

Just two minutes into the fourth quarter, Western New England would send their third goal into the back of the net on an unassisted tally from Taylor Klesyk, who scored her fourth goal of the season. After a penalty corner from Carly-Anna Barba, WNE would see the ball bounce around inside the crease before Klesyk would hop to it and find the back of the net to get Western New England their third goal of the game. Westfield State would use their last-minute efforts to get back into the game, though with 15 seconds left, Zoey Wexler would make her fifth and final save of the night, securing the victory for the Golden Bears and picking up her third shutout of the season, second in a row. 

Around the Lines:

• Zoey Wexler made all five saves for Western New England in the win, collecting shutout number three of the season and the fourth victory of the season for WNE. 
• Sarah Johnston collected a goal and an assist, putting together her third goal and fourth assist of the season. Johnston now has ten points on the season. 
• Westfield State was led by Paige Reisman, who falls to 5-3 on the season. Reisman made ten saves on 13 Golden Bears shots on goal in the loss. 
• WNE outshot Westfield State 21-8 in the contest, also beating the Owls in penalty corners 10-8. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England opens CCC play on Saturday, September 24 at 6:00 pm when Roger Williams University visits Springfield. 
• Westfield State continues play in Little East action when they travel to Worcester State on Tuesday, September 27 at 7:00 pm.