Late Goal Dooms Field Hockey in Non-Conference Play

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 12, 2022) – The Western New England field hockey team dropped a heartbreaker on Wednesday night after the visiting Smith College Pioneers scored with just 11 seconds on the clock to defeat WNE 2-1 from Golden Bear Stadium. 

Records:

• Western New England: 6-4
• Smith College: 8-5

How it Happened:
Western New England controlled much of the offense attack in the first quarter, as the stats would reflect that. Both goalkeepers would be tested in the first 15 minutes of action as Rory Harper for Smith College and Zoey Wexler for Western New England would both come up with key saves in the early minutes. Olivia Eastman, Sarah Johnston and Olyvia Whyte would test the Smith keeper, though Harper would stand tall between the pipes for the Pioneers. Smith's best chance came with under five minutes to play in the quarter when Grace Moorehead directed a shot at Wexler, though the sophomore goalkeeper denied the chance. WNE and Smith would remain at a stalemate entering the second quarter. 

The Golden Bears controlled the action in the first ten minutes of frame as Taylor Klesyk and Grace Miguel would put together shots on goal, though Harper would be equal to the task. Smith would come away with their first goal of the game with 3:59 to play in the second quarter when Abbey O'Meara drove the ball to the net and was initially denied by WNE's defense, though O'Meara would find a loose ball and knock it past the sprawling Wexler and into the back of the net to give the Pioneers a 1-0 edge. Smith's goal would be their only shot of the quarter, as WNE would outshoot Smith 6-1 in the second 30 minutes of play. WNE took the only four penalty corners in the corner, though came up empty. 

Smith came out of the break and got the better of the chance to begin the third quarter of action when Victoria Mellow and Tatum Galuski would take shots on back to back sequences for the Pioneers, though would be denied on both chances, shooting the ball wide of the frame. Western New England would come away with the majority of the possession from then on out, which resulted in their first goal of the game in the late stages of the third quarter. Olyvia Whyte would find a pass and send the ball forwards to a streaking Emily Campbell who was able to take a shot that deflected off Harper and into the back of the net to give Western New England their first goal of the game. Campbell picked up her team leading eighth goal of the season. WNE would outshoot Smith 6-2 in the third quarter. 

Both teams would scrap, looking for the game winning goal in the fourth. Smith would get the first chance at a shot when Victoria Mellow ripped a shot just wide of Wexler, while Olyvia Whyte would take a shot that did just the same on the other send shortly after. Smith would maintain possession on their offensive end of the field in the late stages of the contest and would eventually come away with the game winning goal after being up two players on the field. After Haley Kaczka and Emma Karamian were assessed green and yellow cards, WNE would be down two players while Smith would cash in on the chance. With 11 seconds to play in regulation, Eva Kinnel would take a shot that hit the post, though the ball would return to the stick of Kinnel, who made no mistakes on the second opportunity, and fired the ball into the net to give Smith a 2-1 lead. Smith's dagger would hurt the Golden Bears, as they would fall 2-1 in non-conference play.  

Around the Lines:

• Senior Emily Campbell picked up her 8^th goal of the season, which now leads Western New England. 
• Western New England outshot Smith 20-10 in the contest. WNE took 12 penalty corners in the game, while Smith received just five. 
• Rory Harper made 14 saves for Smith, one less than her season high which came against Williams College (15 saves). 
• Zoey Wexler made two saves for the Golden Bears. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England hosts a CCC showdown with Endicott College on Saturday, October 15 at 1:00 pm from Golden Bear Stadium. WNE Field Hockey will honor their seniors and graduate student prior to the contest. 
• Smith College meets WPI on the same date for NEWMAC action at 11:00 AM from the Smith Turf Field.