Golden Bears Keep Dancing, Beat York College 2-0 in First Round of NCAA Tournament

DALLAS, Pa. (November 12, 2022) - The Western New England women's soccer team pulled out a 2-0 victory on Saturday night over the York College (Pa.) Spartans, secruing their first ever NCAA Tournament win in program history and becomes the first CCC team to win a NCAA game since 2016. Isabella Montalvo and Alison VanVolkenBurg scored the two goals for Western New England that sealed the deal in the victory. 

Records:

• Western New England: 14-5-2 (6-2-1)
• York College of Pennsylvania: 12-5-4 (6-0-2)

How it Happened:

York kicked off, and the first-round game of the NCAA tournament was underway. Both teams got opportunities to move the ball down the field at the beginning of the game; however, neither team capitalized early. The teams were feeling each other out, trying to see how to get the best opportunity at a goal. York had a corner-kick opportunity, and then WNE had two. On the second corner, Bruehwiler sent the ball in; it bounced off a few heads and fell to Isabella Montalvo, who sent the ball flying into the back left of the net. WNE lead 1-0 in the 15th minute of play. York settled in quickly after. A shot in the 19th minute was blocked, and then a shot in the 20th sailed high left of the net. WNE would counter with a corner on the other side of the field. It led to a Summer Hathaway shot high of the net. York's Anna Morten answered with a shot at the lower left corner of the net, but Molly McLaughlin made a big save to keep York scoreless. Gabby Sansone entered the game for the Golden Bears and immediately sent a cross to Bruehwiler, who settled the ball and sent a shot at the net that got blocked. Hathaway followed up with a shot, but it went wide of the net and York goalkeeper Jacqueline Keogh. 

The ball went back and forth from one team to the other. Only a few great opportunities materialized. However, in the 34th minute, McCarthy missed wide left of the net. That was followed up by Montalvo missing to the right side of the net. Sansone followed that up in the 36th minute with a shot that Keogh had to save. That would be the final shot of the half for the Golden Bears. The Spartans got one more opportunity in the 45th minute as Erin Snyder went for goal but missed high of the net. 

The first-half stats told a similar story as the scoreboard. WNE took seven shots, and York took four. Two of WNE's shots were on goal. Only one of York's shots was on net, and McLaughlin made the save. WNE was awarded three corner kicks in the first half, and York was awarded two. Finally, York was called for more fouls as they got penalized for four fouls to WNE's two. It was a close first half that saw Montalvo's goal as the difference maker. WNE was going to have to keep up the good play if they were going to pull off the upset.

WNE kicked off the second half. After the kickoff, York was immediately on the attack. They had two shots in the 47th minute. One went wide, and the other was blocked before getting to McLaughlin. Alyssa Russell then missed a shot wide of goal in the 50th minute. The 52nd minute saw McLaughlin save Ashlynn Weger's shot to keep the score at 1-0. Morton then had a shot blocked by WNE a few seconds after. In the 55th minute, the Golden Bears showed their teeth again when Montalvo and Bruehwiler got shots off. Montalvo's was blocked, but Bruehwiler tested the keeper. Montalvo would follow that shot up with a shot wide in the 59th minute. Snyder put more pressure on McLaughlin in the 70th minute with a shot that was on target. However, McLaughlin made the big save. Two minutes later, Reidy was taken down in the penalty box, and WNE was awarded the penalty kick. Alison VanVolkenburg stepped up to take the kick. VanVolkenburg trotted up and set a laser at the right side of the goal, and it struck the net. WNE had the lead 2-0 with less than 20 minutes to play in the game. 

York would push toward the goal, hoping to squeak one by McLaughlin, but nothing would go. Makayla Harper sent a shot toward goal, but McLaughlin was equal to the task. Sansone would send a shot at net on the other side of the field, but it sailed high. The 81st minute saw York tighten up and go for goal again, but Snyder's shot was high. York then got four more shots off in a row. The first missed high, but McLaughlin saved the next two. The final one did not get close to the net. That would be the final opportunity of the game. WNE will move on to the next round of the NCAA Tournament!

The final stat sheet showed York having 17 shots to WNE's 12. York had six shots on goal, and WNE had four. Both teams had four corner kicks each. Both teams also had seven fouls called against them. It was a hard-fought game, and WNE came out on top.

Inside the Lines:

• In the first NCAA tournament round, the Golden Bears faced off with the Spartans of York College (PA) in Dallas, PA.
• Isabella Montalvo got the scoring started in the 15th minute with a goal from almost the middle of the penalty box.
• Alison VanVolkenburg made the game 2-0 in the 72nd minute on a penalty kick goal.
• McLaughlin made six saves on six shots that she faced. 
• The Golden Bears beat the Spartans by a score of two to zero.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears move on to the next NCAA tournament round, where they will face the top-seeded Cougars of Misericordia in Dallas, PA. That game will be on Sunday, November 13, at 5:00 pm.
• The Spartans' season comes to a close in the first round of the NCAA tournament. They finished the season with a record of 12-5-4.