DANBURY, Conn. - Junior midfielder Sophia Onek (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) blasted home a penalty kick in the 82nd minute of play as the Western Connecticut State University women's soccer team finished in a 1-1 tie with non-conference nemesis Western New England University on Saturday afternoon at the Westside Athletic Complex. The visitors netted the equalizer with less than three minutes remaining in the contest.

The Wolves controlled the majority of play as they outshot the visiting Golden Bears, 16-4. The hosts had several high quality scoring chances in the first half. Senior forward Suzana Imetovski (Seymour, Conn.) ripped a shot from just outside the box that was labeled for the top corner but Golden Bear graduate student netminder Mollyu McLaughlin (Guilford, Conn.) got a piece of the ball as it went just over the crossbar midway thru the stanza. Shortly thereafter, Onek wrapped a free kick shot around the defensive wall but McLaughin came up with another stellar save. 

WestConn continued to pour on the pressure in the second half. Junior backer Hannah Blacher (Allendale, N.J.) gathered a loose ball in the box and booted it just over the iron in the 61st minute. Moments later, Onek knocked a header off the right post following a free kick from just inside the sideline. She followed it up a few mintues later with a rush into the box before being hauled down by a defender. It set up her first goal of the campaign when she booted a low shot into the twine giving the Wolves a 1-0 advantage. But the Golden Bears didn't give up. Sophomore forward Liza Pinette (Acushnet, Mass.) dribbled down the right sideline before breaking in towards the middle of the field. She got to within 20 yards of the cage when she lofted a shot that snuck between the crossbar and the outstretched hands of WestConn rookie goalkeeper Ashlyn Flood (Stamford, Conn.) to earn WNEU the tie. It marked only their second shot on goal in the game.

McLaughlin kept the visitors in the game and finished with eight saves. Flood recorded one for the hosts.

With the heartbreaking stalemate, the Wolves moved to 1-0-1 overall, while the Golden Bears also went to 1-0-1. WestConn returns to action when they travel to non-league opponent Mount Holyoke College on Wednesday at 6 p.m.