Field Hockey Closes Out Home Schedule with 2-0 win over Springfield College

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 27, 2022) – The Western New England field hockey team used to second half goals to propel their way past the Pride of Springfield College on Thursday night from Golden Bear Stadium. 

Records:

• Western New England: 10-5
• Springfield College: 8-9

How it Happened:
No goals were had in the opening 30 minutes of play, though Western New England would control much of the offense through the first half. Western New England's Zoey Wexler would come up big for the Golden Bears, making two opening saves in the opening three minutes of the game as both Audrey Brescianoo and Maddy Dune would be denied by Wexler. Western New England would put one shot on goal in the opening 15 minutes of the came, which came off the stick of Taylor Klesyk, though Remy Niland would make the save. Zoey Wexler came away with three opening quarter saves. 

The Golden Bears would shut down the Pride in the second quarter, not allowing Springfield College with a shot. WNE took three shots in the second quarter, two on goal while also be rewarded with the only two penalty corners of the quarter. Western New England would double Springfield in shots at the half, 6-3. 

WNE needed just five minutes of the third quarter to get on the board when Olivia Eastman tallied her fourth goal of the season. After a scramble in front of the goal, Eastman would find the ball and tap it just passed a giving Remy Niland and the ball would roll just over the line for WNE's first goal of the night. The Golden Bears took three shots in the third quarter while Springfield came away with two. Wexler made an additional two saves in the quarter. 

In the fourth, Western New England would collect their second goal of the game with just nine minutes to play in the contest when Taylor Klesyk scored her team leading 13^th goal of the season. First year Kara Edwards would execute a perfect pass to Klesyk, who would slip a shot into the lower left corner of the net, giving WNE a 2-0 lead. The Golden Bears defense would have to fend off a late push from the Pride after Zoey Wexler would make another two saves down the stretch, preserving her second straight shutout. Wester New England would take down the Pride by a final score of 2-0. 

Inside the Lines:

• Taylor Klesyk and Olivia Eastman would collect a goal each for the Golden Bears in the win. Klesyk recorded four shots, three on goal in the contest while Eastman took three shots, two on goal. 
• WNE outshot Springfield College 10-7 and won the advantage in penalty corners 10-2.
• Zoey Wexler recorded her 6^th shutout of the season and second straight against a NEWMAC opponent. 
• The Western New England defense have allowed just two goals in their last four games. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE wraps up the 2022 regular season by traveling to Gordon College on Saturday, October 29 at 12:00 pm. 
• Springfield College ends their NEWMAC regular season schedule by traveling to Wellesley College on the same date.