By Alex Gilbert
It’s an early October afternoon at Western New England University, and there’s only one minute left of the soccer match between the Golden Bears and Westfield State’s Owls. The scoreboard has been reading 1-1 for the entire second half of the game, and both teams are desperate to take the lead. As the Golden Bears drive the ball away from their net, the clock hits zero. The competitive match against Westfield State has just ended in a tie.
The Western New England University versus Westfield State women’s soccer game took place on October 2 at 4:00 p.m. on the home turf of Suprenant Field, located next to the football stadium and across from Evergreen Village.
Prior to the match, Western New England University and Westfield State University were ranked very close in skill level, with both teams having earned five wins so far in the season. Westfield State University was shaped up to be fierce competition, with their senior forward Delaney Parker having just been named the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, September 30. Parker received the award after scoring three goals against Worcester State University the weekend ahead of the match against Western New England University.
Kristin Hensinger, the women’s soccer coach at Western New England University, strategically planned the team’s plays for the game against Westfield State. Hensinger knew that “Westfield has been playing really well lately and that their two forwards were going to be difficult to handle,” so she “implemented a different formation in our game against Westfield.” The team hoped the new formation would “generate more creative movements off the ball offensively.”
Emma French, a senior midfielder for Western New England University, knew that the game would be tough. She explained, “Westfield State is always a good match-up, and they bring the physicality to the game.”
Western New England University began the game strong, showing the team’s impressive strength and skill. The Golden Bears took an early lead in the ninth minute with a goal scored by
senior forward Kyleigh Wheaton and assisted by junior midfielder and defender Stephanie McKenna. After a corner kick, McKenna passed the ball to Wheaton, who sent the ball flying into the back of the net near the back right post.
French characterized the goal by Wheaton as “one of the highlights of the game,” as “she had just returned from her ACL injury.” The goal “brought some energy to the game,” and the Golden Bears were fired up and ready to win.
However, shortly after the first goal, Westfield State earned a penalty kick against Western New England University, allowing Kiana Muratsuka to score for Westfield State. At minute twelve out of the ninety-minute match, the score was tied, and both teams were fighting hard back and forth to take the lead.
After three saves by Western New England University’s graduate goalie Molly McLaughlin and three saves by Westfield State’s Katie Valentine, no goals were scored in the second half, officially ending the game in a tie.
Coach Hensinger was proud of the team’s performance, noting that “we played hard for 90 minutes.” She added, “we didn’t have any letdowns where I feel that Westfield was able to control us or the game.”
Hensinger saw the new formation implemented against Westfield State “worked well, and it started creating more offensive opportunities, which was our goal when we decided to make the change.” She explained that “the team did a really good job adapting to the new formation” and that although “we still have some small changes that need to be made, overall, I think the team handles change and adversity well.”
The women’s soccer team is currently made up of 36 players ranging from freshman students to graduate students. McKenna, who assisted the goal in the game against Westfield State, is happy with the team dynamic. She explained that “we are able to push each other on the field and are close friends off the field.” The soccer team is “always supportive of each other and are able to openly talk about areas that need improvement during training.”
The women’s soccer team has high ambitions to succeed in their conference during the remainder of their season. With a current streak of five wins, one loss, and five ties, French and the rest of the team are “trying to break the tie streak and come out on top with wins during conference play.” She explained the team’s goal is to “focus in the final third and find the back of the net” in hopes of earning more wins and breaking the ties.
Coach Hensinger has her eyes set on making it to the championship game, although she recognized that “our conference is very competitive, so it is not an easy task.” As a coach, she said she plans on taking it “one day at a time” and “focusing on our game ahead and not focusing on what everyone else in the conference is doing.”
Western New England University’s women’s soccer team will continue playing regular season games through the end of October. Check out wnegoldenbears.com to view their upcoming game schedule, and make sure to stop by to cheer them on.
