Golden Bears and Owls Battle to 1-1 Draw

Wilbraham, Mass. (September 10, 2022) - After a change in location from Suprenant Field to Wilbraham & Monson Academy, the WNE men's soccer team looked to continue their win streak against a hungry Keene State team looking for their first goal of the season. 

Records:

• Western New England: 3-1-1
• Keene State: 0-2-1

How it Happened:

The game would start off hot as WNE would fire two shots within the first two minutes; however, both would slide wide of the net. Keene State would answer with a shot of their own that would not trouble WNE GK Jacob Wadas. The ball would travel back and forth from team to team. WNE would begin to control more of the possession, and in the 14th minute, Knut Lundstrom Svahnqvist would put a shot on goal. KSC GK Eldin Husanovic was equal to the task and would save the shot. The ball would then be played from side to side with not many shots on net until the 30th minute when Matt Spruill would get a chance on net, but again, Husanovic was there to make the save. WNE would find their footing and start taking more shots on net, with Sean Lanzillo sending one right at Husanovic, who saved it. Keene State would see an opportunity arise with under ten minutes left in the first half. Parker Root sent a shot to the bottom left corner of the net, but Wadas could get over to the ball and keep it out. 

As the half was winding down, Mike Milazzo would find the ball at his feet in the penalty with about 18 seconds left. Husanovic tried to rush Milazzo, who also had a defender on him. However, Milazzo stayed calm and lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back right corner of the net for the opening goal in the competition. That would finish off the first half with WNE leading 1-0. Keene State would only take two shots, with one of them being on net. WNE would have 11 shots, four of which were on net and one finding the back of the net. There were four corner kicks by Keene State and only one corner taken by WNE. 

The second half would start like the first half, with the ball transferred from team to team. That was until WNE would make a move and find themselves ready for a shot on net. Malik Serriser would send a long shot at Husanovic, who would gobble it up to keep KSC down by only one. The ball would be moved from one team to another for the next stretch of play. It was not until the 63rd minute that another shot on net would be attempted from either side. That would be Mike Riley from WNE who would shoot, but again, Husanovic kept his team in the game with the save. Keene State would take a shot on net just minutes later. Jacob Wadas was there for WNE to make the save. WNE would start to take control of the second half with shots from Lanzillo and Ian Alves finding Husanovic. As the second half wound down, Keene State would get urgent. That urgency would be rewarded when Haris Suljevic streaked down the left side of the pitch and sent a cross to Declan Coughlin. Coughlin would stick his right foot out and bury the ball past Wadas and into the back of the WNE net for their first goal of the game and season. That would tie up the game at 1-1. 

WNE would push forward and take multiple shots hoping for a lucky bounce, but their efforts would not be rewarded. Keene State would see another opportunity arise as Mbambi Mbungu would fire a shot at the bottom-right side of the goal. However, Wadas would dive and knock the ball out of bounds with his outstretched arm to keep the game as a tie. There would be a shot from each team to finish the game, but neither would be on net.

WNE would outshoot KSC 24-7 and put nine of the 24 shots on net. Keene State would get only four shots on net. Keene State would have seven corner kicks to WNE's four. None of the corner kicks for either team would lead to goals. WNE and Keene State would end the game in a hard-fought draw of 1-1.

Inside the Lines:

• Today's matchup saw WNE take on Keene State for a chance at their fourth win in a row. 
• WNE would start the scoring with a last-minute goal by Mike Milazzo to go into the half up 1-0.
• Keene State would answer with a goal by Declan Coughlin sent across the field by Haris Suljevic. That was the first goal of the season for Coughlin.
• Eldin Husanovic would make eight saves for Keene State on nine shots on net by WNE.
• Jacob Wadas would make three saves on four shots on goal by Keene State. 
• The two teams would end the game in a 1-1 draw.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England will hit the road Wednesday, September 14, when they go out to Babson Park, Mass., to face Babson College at 4:00 pm.
• Keene State will stay on the road as they head out to Troy, N.Y., to take on RPI in a 7:30 pm matchup on Tuesday, September 13.