WestConn Overtakes Western New England with Late Run, 10-8

Ruby tallies team-high six points (4 goals, 2 assists)

DANBURY, Conn. (April 8, 2019) – The Western New England University women's lacrosse team was limited to two second half goals in a 10-8 setback to Western Connecticut State University on Monday night in non-conference action at the Westside Athletic Complex.

Top Performers
Junior Eileen Ruby (New Fairfield, Conn.) paced the Golden Bears offensively with a six-point performance, as she recorded four goals and two assists. Freshman Hannah Jarvis (Westfield, Mass.) scored two goals, while sophomore Reilly Miller (Goshen, N.Y.) and junior Kaitlyn Hutter (Stamford, Conn.) chipped in with one each.

WestConn was led by senior Lauren Bradshaw (Bethel, Conn.), who tallied a team-high four goals to go along with six draw controls and four caused turnovers. Junior Brooke Baldelli (New Fairfield, Conn.) and sophomore Caroline Galligan (Marshfield, Mass.) both turned in three-point performances as Baldelli registered a hat trick and Galligan finished with two goals and one assist.

Game Review
Ruby got the Golden Bears on the board 1:29 into the contest, and Miller made it 2-0 in favor of Western New England at the 25:13 mark of the first half. 

Western Connecticut responded with consecutive goals from Baldelli to tie it up, before the Golden Bears used a 3-0 spurt to open up a 5-2 lead with 22:36 on the clock.

Western New England led by the same margin (6-3) following Ruby's free position goal midway through the half, but the Colonials tallied three unanswered goals over the final 6:46 of the period to pull even at the break. Bradshaw scored twice during that run, including the equalizer with four seconds remaining before the halftime horn.

The home team grabbed its first lead courtesy of Baldelli just over four minutes into the second half. Ruby scored an unassisted goal at 24:49 to tie the contest 7-7, before finding the back of the net for the fourth and final time with the help of an assist from sophomore Carley Piemonte (East Longmeadow, Mass.) to put the Golden Bears back in front (8-7) at the 16:25 mark.

A late Western Connecticut run would prove to be the difference, however. Bradshaw tied the game for the last time just past the midpoint of the half, and Galligan buried a free position attempt with 13:57 remaining to give the Colonials the lead (9-8) for good. Freshman Mia Schumey (West Hartford, Conn.) provided the home team with some insurance late as she scored with 1:24 left to extend the margin to 10-8, which stood as the final score.

Notes
• The Colonials forced 24 Western New England turnovers and held an 11-8 edge in draw controls.
• The Golden Bears were successful on 16-of-24 clear attempts, while Western Connecticut was 14-for-15.

Up Next
Western New England (6-6) resumes CCC play on Wednesday night at Gordon, while Western Connecticut (8-3) continues its three-game homestand on Thursday against Castleton.