Penalty Kick Dooms Golden Bears Women's Soccer in 1-0 Loss

Springfield, Mass. (September 21, 2022) - The women's soccer team returned home for their first home game since beating Husson on September 4. The women looked to carry the momentum from the end of the Curry game into this game against Smith College. Smith looked to get their first win since September 7.

Records:

• Western New England: 3-3-1 (1-0-0)
• Smith College: 3-1-2 (0-0-1)

How it Happened:

To start the game, both teams looked to gain and keep possession for more than a few seconds. However, the ball changed possession rapidly. Eventually, WNE would get control of the ball, leading to a shot by Danielle McCarthy that sailed above the crossbar and out of play. WNE had the first shot of the day, but Smith would have the first shot on net of the day. It happened in the tenth minute as Seychelle Brainard sent a hard shot at WNE GK Molly McLaughlin. However, McLaughlin would be there for the save. In the 18th minute, Summer Hathaway attempted to get a shot on net, but it also sailed high. Hathaway attempted another shot in the 23rd minute, but the ball would go wide left this time. That was quickly followed up by a Smith shot on net by Piper Thompson, but McLaughlin would be equal to the task again. The game would go back-and-forth for a lot of the first half. Jordan Paré and Lindsay Reidy would get shots off, but neither would test Smith's GK, Noemi Howland.

In the final five minutes of the first half, WNE put some more pressure on Smith as they attempted three more shots hoping that one would find the back of the net. However, two shots were blocked before getting to Howland, and the last one would slide to the right of the goal and out of play. The first half ended with a score of 0-0. Western New England shot the ball eight times in the first half; however, none of them would test Howland in net. Smith had two shots in the half, and both were on the net, making McLaughlin save both to keep the shutout alive. Each team had a corner kick during the first half, and both teams had three fouls called against them. 

As the second half got underway, WNE pushed to be the first to strike. Samantha Vitka sent a shot towards the net, but it slipped wide left. Three minutes later, Julia Frappier tested Howland for the first time during the game. Howland made the save to keep the score stuck at 0-0. However, that would not be the case for long as Smith attacked the net. The official called a foul inside the penalty box leading to a penalty kick from Smith's defender, Madelyn Boyle. Boyle stepped back, took a few quick steps forward, and sent the ball right past McLaughlin into the bottom right side of the net. The score was now 1-0, Smith, with around 37 minutes left to play in the game. 

WNE wasted no time hunting for the equalizer. Sam Vitka put another shot in the vicinity of the net less than a minute after Boyle's goal. However, it drifted right of the net. In the 62nd minute, Allyson Hill put a shot on Howland in the bottom center of the net, but Howland saved it cleanly. The ball was sent towards midfield, but WNE would gather it back, and less than a minute after the last shot, Allison Bruehwiler attempted a shot, but it went high of the net. WNE kept the pressure on Smith with shots from Kyleigh Wheaton, Hill, and Reidy, but nothing was getting past Howland in net. Bruehwiler would attempt in the 77th minute, but Howland was there again for the save. WNE would not go away, though. Shots by Reidy, Gabby Sansone, and Hathaway would not trouble Howland, but kept Smith on their heels. Sansone had the final shot of the game in the 84th minute of play. It would rise over the crossbar for a goal kick. The official blew the final whistle shortly after, with Smith winning 1-0.

The final stat line read 22 shots for Western New England and four for Smith College. Howland tacked up five saves on five attempts, and McLaughlin had two saves on three shots on goal. WNE attempted six corner kicks to Smith's two, and each team would have three fouls called against them in the second half for a total of six each. 

Inside the Lines:

• Today's game between WNE and Smith college marked the fourth meeting in five years for the two teams. Smith won two of the last three matchups.
• The first half would see multiple shots from both sides, but they would not result in any goals being scored.
• In the 53rd minute, a penalty kick was awarded to Smith College. Madelyn Boyle would send a shot past Molly McLaughlin for the first and only goal of the game. 
• McLaughlin tallied two saves, and Howland tallied five.
• Smith won the game 1-0.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England stays at home to take on CCC rival Nichols College. The game will be on Saturday, September 24, at 2:00 pm. 
• Smith returns home for their next game against conference-foe, Wheaton, on Saturday, September 24. That game will be played at 1:00 pm.