SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 28, 2018) – The fourth-seeded Western New England University women's soccer team advanced to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Tournament semifinals with a penalty kick shootout victory over fifth-seeded Roger Williams University on Saturday afternoon at Suprenant Field. After the two teams played to a 1-1 draw through 90 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime, the Golden Bears emerged victorious with a 3-0 triumph in the decisive penalty shootout.

With the win, Western New England (8-7-4) moves on to the semifinal round of the CCC Tournament for the second consecutive season. The Golden Bears will travel to top-seeded Endicott College on Wednesday with a berth in the CCC Championship game on the line. Roger Williams' season concludes at 7-10-2.

Top Performers
Western New England's lone goal came courtesy of CCC Rookie of the Year Allison Bruehwiler (Old Saybrook, Conn.), who netted the equalizer in the second half.

Junior goalkeeper Alex Lemekha (Stamford, Conn.) made five saves for the Golden Bears and stopped the only PK attempt that was put on frame.

Junior defender Alli Santacroce (Burlington, Conn.) scored for Roger Williams with an assist from freshman Sammy Jost (Ringwood, N.J.).

Game Review
The Hawks struck first in the 22^nd minute when Jost sent in a cross that Santacroce was able to finish to give Roger Williams an early 1-0 lead. 

The visitors maintained their one-goal edge for the remainder of the half and for the first 23+ minutes of the second period, before the Golden Bears broke through at the 68:02 mark. Following a corner kick by sophomore Bee Murphy (Monson, Mass.), Bruehwiler collected a loose ball and buried a shot into the upper left corner of the net.

Bruehwiler then nearly orchestrated the go-ahead goal for Western New England in the 70^th minute, as she sent in a cross from the right side that sophomore Shawna O'Neill (Worcester, Mass.) headed off the post.

Western New England continued to pressure in the late stages of regulation, but the Golden Bears were unable to find the back of the net as the contest went to overtime.

Following the first overtime period that featured no shots on goal for either side, Western New England forced Roger Williams freshman goalkeeper Morgan McCutcheon (Danbury, Conn.) to stop a pair of shots in the second extra session. After 110 minutes of play, a penalty kick shootout was needed to decide the outcome.

Western New England sophomore Mariana Goncalves (Ludlow, Mass.) calmly converted the first attempt of the shootout, and Lemekha followed with a diving save on Roger Williams senior Jenny Nasser (Beverly, Mass.). The Golden Bears took a 2-0 lead when freshman Mackenzie Holy (West Haven, Conn.) came through on Western New England's second attempt, before Roger Williams junior Morgan Snow (Rowley, Mass.) sent her shot wide of the goal. Bruehwiler slotted home her try to give the Golden Bears a 3-0 advantage, and Santacroce was unable to put her attempt on frame as Western New England sealed the shootout win.

Notes
• Western New England outshot Roger Williams 25-11, including 7-4 in shots on goal.
• With her second half goal, Bruehwiler is now tied for the team lead in points with 15.
 
"We played well enough to win in regulation and even in overtime we looked like the team to break the dead lock," said Head Doach Tim Moody. "Gabbi scored a perfectly good goal, the game winner, in fact it was a great goal, but unfortunately the sideline official disagreed. Hopefully, we will use VAR next season in the playoffs. From my angle and a lot of people on the sideline, it was a well timed run and quality finish.
 
"Had that goal not been taken away, we wouldn't have gone to penalty kicks. We scored first and once again prevented WNEU from getting in front. We were never chasing the game, apart from the point that we wanted to win the game, so we attacked and created plenty of good opportunities.
 
"Unfortunately, we didn't get the luck we deserved and our journey ends here this fall. This team played against the best teams and had the hardest schedule we have ever had, and it would be fair to say we played very well this season and are a very good team. The proof is in the games and the quality of soccer we played and how we competed.
 
"It is always heartbreaking at the end of the year unless you are the last team playing and the last team to win a game of soccer. But this team should be very proud, they have grown and improved since day one. We are very young but have gained a lot of experience this season. We beat Endicott and we beat several other quality programs and played against national ranked teams who will most likely be conference champions.
 
"This quality of competition will help to challenge us and change us, which promotes the development of skills, techniques and tactical understanding. We will get physically and mentally stronger leading to the growth in our mental mindset to overcome problems and look for solutions.
 
"We have and always will have high standards. The next band of quality recruits we add to the team will have to want those character traits to compete, to be the best they can be, we recruit players that want to win...which means the future and program is in a good place, we will be there again next year to compete for CCC Championship.
 
"The seniors have had a great career and have been worthy to wear the jersey!"