SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Western New England College field hockey needed to win a big game, and they did it!

Junior defender Kathleen Jasinski (Templeton, Mass.) scored the first two goals of her career, including the game-winner with 5:19 left in overtime, as the Golden Bears defeated Salve Regina 3-2 Saturday afternoon (Oct. 23) during Senior and Play-for-the-Cure Day.

Western New England College improved its record to 7-10 after winning for the third time in its last four outings. More importantly, the Golden Bears evened their mark to 4-4 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) to qualify for the league tournament that begins next Saturday (Oct. 30) at campus sites.

Senior forward Aimee O'Connell (Rome, N.Y.) put the hosts ahead with her fourth goal of the season 13:03 into the contest. Jasinski followed at 23:44 for a two-goal advantage. Senior midfielder Erin Griffin (Lowell, Mass.) assisted on both goals.

The Seahawks finally scored with 1:06 left before intermission on a goal by junior forward Nikki Schlegel (Kennebunkport, Maine) with an assist from junior midfielder Michelle Massey (Mendon, Mass.).

Salve Regina (3-14, 2-6 TCCC) tied the contest when freshman forward Stephanie Reilly (North Grafton, Mass.) fired in her first goal of the season at the 46:40 mark.

With a playoff bid at stake for both squads, each team used strong defense to keep one another off the board for the final 23:20 of regulation in the well-played game.

In overtime, SRU freshman forward Lisa Bucci (Irvington, N.Y.) had a couple of shots that just missed right. Junior goalie Natalie Balletta (Leominster, Mass.) then made a couple of great saves on shots by Griffin and O'Connell.

That set the stage for Jasinski who delivered the winning goal with a low liner from about 20 yards out that sailed into the right corner of the net.

Balletta finished with 11 saves in a gutsy performance while WNEC sophomore Kaitlyn Hall (Pawtucket, R.I.) also performed well stopping five shots.

Courtesy of Western New England sports information