Springfield, Mass. - April 21, 2021 - The Springfield College field hockey team returned to competition in their season opener on Wednesday evening and was clipped by Western New England, 2-1. 

Tonight's game marked the only game of the year for Springfield, which had last played 531 days ago in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship Semifinals against Babson on November 7, 2019.   The Pride held a 12-11 edge in shots for the game and took seven of the game's 10 penalty corners in their season finale.

Afer a scoreless first quarter, Springfield struck for the game's first goal at the 16:37 mark when Kirsten Oliver (Vernon Center, N.Y.) fed a pass through traffic to Emma Wesoloski (South Deerfield, Mass.), who jammed home a shot alongside the right post.  The Golden Bears nearly made it a 1-1 game with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half on their first penalty corner of the evening, only to have Sydney Harris (Longmeadow, Mass.) come up with a defensive save on the goal line on Emily Campbell's bid.

Western New England knotted the game up in the 39th minute as Carly Anna Barba's centering pass along the endline found Taylor Klesyk in front of the cage.  Klesyk received the ball with her back to the cage, spun, and blistered a ball into the corner to make it a 1-1 contest.  It appeared as though the game was headed into overtime, but a turnover in Springfield's defensive third allowed Barba to break free down the right flank in transition.  Barba then ripped a centering pass that Haley Daigneault was able to redirect into the back of the cage for the game winner with just 30 seconds remaining. 

Laura Dion made two saves in goal for WNE in the victory, while Remy Niland (Marshfield, Mass.) was credited with three saves for the Pride. 

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