Men's Soccer

Lewis Leads Golden Bears to CNE Semifinals With Overtime Winner

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (November 1, 2025) – The Golden Bears traveled down to West Hartford, Connecticut, to take on the number four-seeded University of Hartford in the First Round of the CNE Postseason Tournament. After falling behind early, Tyler Lewis would equalize in the second half and, with a header shot in overtime, would send the Golden Bears to the semifinals to complete the upset versus the Hawks.

Records:

  • Western New England: 9-8-2 (6-3-1)
  • University of Hartford: 10-6-2 (6-3-1)

How it Happened:

First Half

  • Ryan Lunn and Braylon Casinghino stood across from each other in goal to start the game.
  • WNE started quickly with two shots on goal and a Ben Riley shot needing to be saved in the 6th minute of the contest.
  • However, it was Hartford who scored the first goal. Jared Noble found the back of the net after Austin Murawski found Noble with the assist.
  • WNE sprang back into action with the very next shot on goal and corner kick.
  • WNE kept the pressure on with shots, including one on goal.
  • WNE would keep moving towards scoring the next goal, but just could not find another shot for the rest of the half. However, neither could Hartford, and WNE trailed 1-0 at halftime.
  • The halftime stats saw WNE leading 5-1 in shots and 3-1 in shots on goal. WNE also had more corner kicks, 3-1. Hartford had more saves, 3-0, and both teams had four fouls.

Second Half:

  • The second half saw the teams trade possession early.
  • WNE would build their momentum through a few shots and a corner kick. Hartford tried to counter, but the momentum continued to build for WNE.
  • That was the case through the 65th minute of play, and in the 69th minute, the team-leader in goals this season for WNE, Tyler Lewis, found the back of the net. Jacob Dounetos was credited with the assist, and WNE was level with Hartford 1-1.
  • WNE would continue to make the game tough for Hartford, and in the 78th minute, Hartford would be shown a red card, playing with ten men for the remainder of the contest.
  • Ben Riley had another shot on goal, which Lunn saved after that.
  • WNE kept moving forward for a goal, and Cole Casinghino would send a shot at Lunn in the 88th minute, but the Hartford goalie made the save.
  • Hartford earned a corner kick in the 89th minute but was unable to find a goal, and the contest went to overtime.

Overtime:

  • Overtime began with WNE playing the ball forward and earning a kick in the corner. The ball was played by Jacob Dounetos over the top of the group of players in front of the goal and collided with Tyler Lewis' head.
  • The ball deflected into the goal, and the Golden Bears celebrated a 2-1 upset victory versus Hartford in the 92nd minute of play.

Inside the Lines:

  • The Golden Bears defeated the Hawks 2-1 in overtime.
  • Jared Noble scored in the 11th minute to give Hartford the lead off an Austin Murawski assist. Hartford led 1-0.
  • Tyler Lewis equalized the game at 1-1 in the 69th minute off an assist from Jacob Dounetos.
  • Jacob Dounetos found Tyler Lewis once again, in the 92nd minute, with Lewis sending a header shot into the back of the goal to gift WNE the 2-1 upset victory.
  • The final statistics showed WNE leading in shots (18-5), shots on goal (8-1), corner kicks (9-4), and fouls (11-10). Hartford led in saves 6-0.

Up Next on the Schedule:

  • WNE will travel to Bristol, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 4:00 PM, as they take on the top-seeded Hawks of Roger Williams University in the CNE Semifinals.