O’Neill’s First Half Blast Proves Enough to Down Bison 1-0

Springfield, Mass. (September 24, 2022) - The Golden Bears entered their second CCC matchup today with a 1-0 record in the conference. The Bison of Nichols College came to town looking to secure their first CCC win and deny WNE the chance the win two CCC games in a row.

Records:

• Western New England: 5-3-1 (2-0-0)
• Nichols College: 5-4-1 (0-1-1)

How it Happened:

As the whistle blared, the game was underway. WNE looked to have a hot start and put pressure on the visiting Bison early. It started with a sixth-minute shot from Sam Riley that made the Nichols GK, Derek Axon, make his first save of the day. That was followed by Roger Leland's first save of the day for WNE. Fernando Barraco put a shot on the net right in the center. It did not worry Leland too much. WNE kept the pressure on with shots by Sam Riley and Sean O'Neill. Both of which had to be saved by Axon. In the 18th minute, Mike Riley would get in on the action when he sent a shot at Axon that he would have to make a save on to keep the score knotted at zero. After that, the ball would go back and forth between teams, but then end up back with WNE as Matt Spruill would have an attempt at a goal in the bottom left corner. However, Axon was equal to the task and parried the ball out of bounds for a WNE corner. 

The big opportunity for WNE would come in the 38th minute when WNE was awarded a free kick close to the midline on Nichols' side of the field. Senior, Sean O'Neill, would take the kick and put a left-footed shot on net that would bend into the top-right corner of the net right past Axon. The goal would put WNE up 1-0 with under ten minutes left until halftime. Nichols would try to get some momentum back before the end of the half, but for the rest of the half, the ball would bounce from side to side, and not much momentum would be picked up from either side.

WNE would own a lot of the possession in the first half and put six of their 11 shots on net during play. Nichols had two shots during the first half, with only one testing the junior goalie for WNE, Leland. WNE would own all corner kicks in the first half with five corners. Nichols would be the more physical team with seven fouls to WNE's six. The teams would break for halftime, with the score being WNE, one, Nichols, zero.

When the ball was put in play to start the second half, Nichols had a fire in their eyes. They controlled the ball and put pressure on WNE early, hoping for the equalizing goal. However, the first shot of the second half would be from WNE when Mike Milazzo hammered a shot, but it was blocked before making it to the net. William Savage from Nichols would have the next shot, but Laland would not have to worry about it as it sailed over the crossbar. Nicholas McGrath and Fernando Barranco would be next to attempt shots, but neither would get the ball close to the net. Brandon Lewis would attempt to double the Golden Bears' lead in the 74th minute, but Axon would keep up the strong play and deny him. Lewis would shoot thirteen minutes later, but Axon was there again to keep his team in the game. Nichols would not be able to get another shot on Leland as WNE would keep Nichols away from the net and finish the game without letting up a goal. 

The game would end with WNE earning 17 shots to Nichols' six. Axon had to make eight saves on nine shots on goal. Leland made one save on the only shot on goal that he faced from Nichols. Nichols picked up a corner kick in the second half, but WNE still led that battle with six total corners to Nichols' one. Both teams ended with eleven fouls. The final score of the game was 1-0 WNE. 

Inside the Lines:

• Today's game saw WNE play host to CCC-rival Nichols College. This was the second CCC matchup for both teams of the year.
• Sean O'Neill scored the only goal of the game in the 38th minute when he sent a free kick hurtling towards the net. The ball bent right past the Nichols' goalkeeper and into the top-left corner of the net.
• Nichols goalkeeper Derek Axon made eight saves on nine shots on goals.
• WNE goalkeeper Roger Leland made one save to earn another shutout on the season.
• Western New England won the game 1-0 and earned their fourth shutout of the season.
• This was the second CCC win for the Golden Bears.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England will stay at home for their third straight home game against Trinity College on Tuesday, September 27, at 4:00 pm. 
• Nichols will return home to take on Mitchell College on Monday, September 26, at 3:00 pm.