SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – First year forward Allison Bruehwiler scored with nine seconds remaining in overtime to lift Western New England University to a 2-1 win over Mount Holyoke College in non-conference action on Tuesday evening. With the win, the Golden Bears move to 3-2-0, while the Lyons slip to 2-2-0.
As time began to expire in the overtime session, Western New England gained control as sophomore midfielder Mariana Goncalves (Ludlow, Mass./Ludlow) dribble down the right side, firing a bullet shot in through traffic. The ball caromed off the post and back out into play. Fighting for control, Bruehwiler (Old Saybrook, Conn./Old Saybrook) got the touch between defenders and fired the ball in on the left past the Lyons' keeper to end the game.
The two teams battled scoreless through the opening half, which saw Mount Holyoke goalie Amanda Manaster (Beverly Hills, Calif./Beverly Hills) post an outstanding effort, stopping all 11 shots that came at her.
Western New England got on the board first 68th minute after great ball movement put a shot onto the foot of Bruehwiler. First year defender Katie Swallow (Methuen, Mass./Methuen) got the play going, dribbling the ball from right to center before chipping it up 10 yards. Goncalves corralled it, taking a few steps before launching a shot on goal. The ball bounced off the shoulder of an MHC defender, redirecting left as Bruehwiler battled past the defense to launch the ball into the right corner.
Mount Holyoke answered in the 80th minute as junior midfielder Cora Melcher (Portland, Maine/Casco Bay) sent a long pass up from the neutral zone down the right side. Battling past a defender, junior forward Hannah Finn-Erb (Northampton, Mass./Northampton) sent a shot sailing past the Golden Bears netminder and into the left corner.
Western New England held a 24-8 advantage in shots for the contest and owned a 6-2 clip on corner kicks. Seniro Marissa Veilleux (Newington, Conn./Newington) picked up her first victory of the season with three stops to move to 1-1-0. For the Lyons, Manaster recorded 12 saves.
Mount Holyoke returns to action on Saturday when it opens NEWMAC play at home against Emerson College at 1pm. Western New England also begins its conference action in the CCC, hosting Endicott at 11am.
