Golden Bears surge with four unanswered goals

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 1, 2021) – The Western New England field hockey team scored four unanswered goals on their way to a 4-1 win over the Salve Regina University Seahawks on Friday night from Golden Bear Stadium.

Records:
Western New England: 5-3 (2-1 CCC)
Salve Regina: 6-3 (0-3 CCC)

How it Happened:
The Golden Bears did not get off to the start they were looking as they surrendered the game's first goal on the game's first shot by the Seahawks. Salve Regina saw Hannah Bedrosian move up the right-side line and send the ball towards the middle of the goal from just inside the arch. Grace Parker was parked at the back side of the left post where she knocked the ball into the cage to give Salve the early 1-0 lead. The Seahawks would pick up the only two shots in the first quarter, one finding the back of the net and the other finding the pads of Golden Bears starting GK Zoey Wexler.

Western New England would find their offensive game to start the second quarter and that would lead to the Golden Bears first goal of the game. With the ball in the offensive zone for the Golden Bears, Carly-Anna Barba saw the ball jump to her stick just inside the arch where she took a backhand shot that found its way through the crowd in front of the net and into the goal to give Western New England their first goal of the contest. Anna-Barber picks up her second goal of the season. Western New England took two shots in the half, while Salve was shut down in the quarter.

The Golden Bears would return from the break and net their second goal of the game to take the lead on Salve Regina. After the Golden Bears were able to work the ball into the offensive zone, Sarah Johnston made a pass into the arch to teammate Taylor Klesyk who was able to fire the ball into the back of the cage to give Western New England the lead. Klesyk notched her fourth of the year with the tally.

The fourth quarter brought more of the same for the Golden Bears as they struck for two goals in the final 15 minutes. Ali Larochelle collected her third goal of the season off a cross crease feed from Johnston who picked up her second assist of the game. The Golden Bears final strike of the game came off Western New England's only penalty corner of the fourth quarter when Barba sent the ball to the stick of Ali Martin who took a shot that sailed past GK Olivia Butler and into the net to give the Golden Bears the 4-1 lead. WNE would out shoot Salve Regina 10-2 in the contest and 10-0 in the final 45 minutes of the game to pick up their second CCC win of the season.

Inside the Lines:
Four different goal scorers for Western New England led the way as Carly-Anna Barba, Taylor Klesyk, Ali Larochelle, and Ali Martin all found the net for the Golden Bears while teammate Sarah Johnston contributed with two assists in the win.

GK Zoey Wexler made one save in the 4-1 win for the Golden Bears. Wexler was tested in the first quarter and would not face a shot in the final 45 minutes of the game. On the other side of the field, GK Olivia Butler faced eight WNE shots on goal, making four stops.

Western New England did not surrender a penalty corner in the win. The Golden Bears did pick up four penalty corners of their own.

Up Next on the Schedule:
The Golden Bears will host Mount Holyoke on Thursday, October 7 at 7:00 pm for a non-conference tilt. Salve Regina will stay on the road as they will take on Eastern Connecticut State University at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, October 5.