Field Hockey Sees 2022 Season Close in CCC Semifinals

BEVERLY, Mass. (November 3, 2022) – The Western New England field hockey team, seeded three in the CCC playoffs, well short on Thursday night to the two seeded Gulls of Endicott College, seeing their 2022 season come to an end. 

Records:

• #3 Western New England: 11-6
• #2 Endicott College: 15-4

How it Happened:

The Gulls wasted little time to get on the scoreboard first, as Endicott looked to make it to the CCC Championship for the 5^th straight season. After Lindsay Burns tested Western New England GK Zoey Wexler,Wexler was able to make the first save, though a rebound chance to slashed home by Burns, who picked up her seventh goal of the season, giving Endicott a 1-0 lead. Prior to the goal from Endicott, Western New England's Haley Kaczka and Taylor Klesyk took two shots on goal for the Golden Bears, though Endicott's Brianna Anslow would deny the two chances. 

The Gulls got back on the board just four minutes of their first of the night off a similar goal to the first. Lindsay Burns would one shot that would be denied by Wexler, though a rebound chance would be buried, giving the Gulls a 2-0 lead. The lead would stand after one quarter of play. Western New England outshot Endicott in the first quarter 6-5, though trailed by two goals. 

Back and forth action would be seen in the next 15 minutes of play with Western New England coming away with just a single penalty corner in the period. Endicott would not take a penalty corner in the frame, though would come away with four shots to WNE's none, finding the back of the net late in the second. Lindsay Burns would be on the scoresheet again for EC, this time on an assist after she made a pass to Tori Swanson, who tucked the ball past Zoey Wexler and into the net, giving Endicott a 3-0 lead, a lead that stood at halftime. 

Western New England would control much of the start of the third quarter, coming away with an early penalty corner and a handful of shots that would test the Gulls keeper. WNE would pick up their second penalty corner of the quarter and would cash in for their first goal of the season against Endicott. After Carly-Anna Barba inserted the corner, Abby Burns would take a shot that would sail why, though a quick restart for WNE would lead to a goal from Haley Kaczka, giving WNE just a two-goal deficit, at 3-1. 

Endicott needed just 2:30 to get their fourth goal of the game when Maddy Dengler notched her 13^th goal of the season on an assist from Meghan Hogan. Western New England would not take kindly to the Endicott goal, getting another goal of their own to get right back into the contest. Olyvia Whyte would insert a penalty corner to Taylor Klesyk, who took a shot that was saved by EC defender Claire Boncek, though Emily Campbell would be right on the doorstep to tap the ball over the line, giving Western New England their second goal of the game, trailing 4-2. As they did after the first WNE goal, Endicott would come back firing, though this time, the WNE defense would hold Endicott off the scoreboard. Zoey Wexler would make five huge saves for WNE in the final five minutes of the quarter, keeping the game within reach for the Golden Bears. Western New England took the first six of seven shots in the third quarter, while Endicott came away with the last nine of the contest in the quarter. 

Endicott would quickly tally in the fourth quarter after the flurry of shots in the third quarter shots would continue for the Gulls in the fourth. Zoey Wexler would make two saves on Lindsay Burns, though Burns would not give up on the ball, and would find the back of the net for the third time in the contest. Western New England would attempt to get back into the game, putting pressure on the Gulls after Emily Campbell and Taylor Klesyk would both take shots on goal, though Brianna Anslow would deny the chance. WNE would take their second penalty corner of the fourth quarter, just 21 seconds after the goal from Endicott, and cash in for their third goal of the game when Sarah Johnston netted her 10^th goal of the season on an assist from Haley Kaczka to get Western New England within two goals of the tie. 

The Golden Bears would continue the pressure after being awarded with another penalty corner with six minutes to play in the game and their season on the line. WNE's Olyvia Whyte would make the insert, which found the still of Grace Miguel, who took the shot that was blocked off to Emily Campbell, who then took a shot on goal that was saved by Endicott, keeping Western New England off the scoreboard. WNE would continue to put pressure on Endicott, taking shot after shot in hopes of tying the contest. Olivia Eastman, Sarah Johnston and Emily Campbell all came away with shots for the Golden Bears, though Western New England would see time expire before they were able to come away with two goals to tie. The Golden Bears fell 5-3, sending Endicott to their fifth straight CCC Championship game. 

Inside the Lines:

• Endicott took 28 shots in the contest, while Western New England took 22. Endicott outshot Western New England 4-0 in the second quarter. 
• WNE never led in the contest, seeing Endicott take a quick 3-0 lead and never looked back. 
• Haley Kaczka, Emily Campbell and Sarah Johnston scored goals for Western New England in their final game of the season. 
• Zoey Wexler made 12 saves for the Golden Bears in the loss. Endicott's Brianna Anslow made nine saves while the Gulls were credited with one defensive save. 
• Each team took ten penalty corners. 
• Taylor Klesyk led WNE with seven shots, putting four on goal. Lindsay Burns scored three times and picked up an assist, shoots a team high 12 times at Zoey Wexler. 
• Thank you to WNE seniors Emily Campbell, Abby Burns, and Taylor Klesyk for your contributions on and off the field to WNE Field Hockey!

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE sees their season end at 11-6. 
• Endicott moves into the CCC Championship game on Saturday, November 5 to take on University of New England.