Early Roger Williams Goal Helps Stun WNE 1-0

Springfield, Mass. (October 22, 2022) - WNE returned home from Suffolk looking to improve their five-game win streak. They played host to the Hawks of Roger Williams. With the postseason only a week away, this matchup between the first-ranked Golden Bears and seventh-ranked Hawks could prove to be massive for both teams trying to solidify their position in the playoffs.

Records:

• Western New England: 10-5-1 (5-2-1)
• Roger Williams University: 7-9-3 (3-3-2)

How it Happened:

The game started with a Roger Williams kickoff. Roger Williams immediately sent it down the field to Bianca Robbins, who made a move, but lost the ball. The ball moved from team to team to start the game, but in the fourth minute, Robbins got the ball back and sent a shot that was pushed wide right of the net. The eighth minute stunned WNE. The ball was moved up the field by Roger Williams. All of a sudden, Robbins had the ball again at the top of the WNE penalty box. Robbins moved the ball from foot to foot and then sent a blast at WNE GK Molly McLaughlin. Unfortunately, McLaughlin could not get a hand on the ball, and the ball crashed into the back of the net. Roger Williams had the lead 1-0. After the surprisingly quick start to the game from Roger Williams, WNE bounced back. The 12th minute saw Maria Butrimas put a shot up, but it went wide of the net. Then, Allyson Hill sent a shot on net, but the Roger Williams GK, Coco Marrelli, was there for the save. Not much shot action happened in the next fifteen minutes, but then in the 31st minute, Sofie Morris put a boot to the ball, but it was blocked before getting to McLaughlin. That was followed by a Lindsay Reidy shot that went high of the net. Emma French also got a shot off, but did not worry Marrelli as it went to the left of the net. Gabby Sansone had a shot blocked in the 39th minute, and in the 41st minute, Brynn Murphy sent a shot at the top left of the net, but Marrelli leaped up and made the save to deny Murphy the equalizer. The last three minutes did not see another shot on the net, and the first half would end with Roger Williams leading WNE 1-0.

WNE had six shot attempts in the first half. Roger Williams only had three. Two of WNE's shots made it on net. Only one shot from Roger Williams was on net, and it found the back of it. Both teams were awarded four corner kicks. Roger Williams was called for all the fouls as WNE played a clean first half in terms of fouls. Roger Williams was called for four fouls. WNE finished the half hard, but still had a lot to do if they were going to push their win streak to six games.

The second half started with Danielle McCarthy getting onto the shot chart. However, it was sent right to Marrelli for the simple save. After that, not much was generated in terms of offense until the 55th minute. Robbins was there again for the Hawks. Robbins sent a shot toward the bottom right of the net, but McLaughlin was there for the save. The ball moved from team to team, with momentum favoring WNE, but they could not do much with it. The 62nd minute saw McLaughlin make a big save on Grace Kelly to keep the deficit at only one. That would be followed up in the 64th minute by Abby Free sending a shot at Marrelli. Marrelli made the save in the bottom left corner of the net. A shot from each team followed. Neither shot made it on net. WNE kept the fire inside them as they made a push toward the equalizing goal. In the 74th minute, Sansone sent a shot at the bottom left of the net. Marrelli made a big save on the ball. Free then got arguably the best shot on net during the game for the Golden Bears. From the right side of the field, just outside the penalty box, Free sent a shot arching over the goalie that looked like it had eyes for goal. However, it stung the post and bounced up and out of play. WNE regained possession of the ball, but it was taken away by Roger Williams and pushed onto the WNE side of the field. WNE tried to push for more opportunities, but none were found until the 88th minute. Sansone sent a shot toward the net, but then went wide. Same with Murphy's shot in the 89th minute. WNE pushed hard for the equalizer, but LaCapra's shot off of a free kick would prove to be the final opportunity, and it sailed high and wide right of the net. WNE lost the game 1-0.

The final stat line saw WNE stay in control of the shots by taking 14 shots compared to RWU's six. Roger Williams had three shots on net, with McLaughlin keeping two of the shots out. WNE got five shots on net, but Marrelli saved every shot. WNE had seven corner kicks during the game. Roger Williams had five. Roger Williams was called for ten fouls, and WNE was only called for two. The stat line suggested WNE was the better team, but Roger Williams came away with the win of 1-0.

Inside the Lines:

• WNE hosted Roger Williams for a Saturday afternoon matchup as the women's team looked to improve their win streak to six.
• Bianca Robbins scored early in the game on a laser shot that got past McLaughlin. That 8th-minute goal was goal number 11 for Robbins on the year.
• Molly McLaughlin made two saves on three shots that found the goal.
• Coco Marrelli kept WNE out of the net on eight of eight shots that were put on goal.
• Robbins' goal in the 8th minute proved the winner as Roger Williams beat WNE 1-0.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE returns to action at home on Wednesday, October 26, at 3:30 pm when they play host to Wentworth Institute.
• Roger Williams returns home for their season finale against Nichols College on Tuesday, October 25, at 7:00 pm.