DANBURY, Conn. — Reagan Schoen (Newtown, Conn.) struck twice for the Western Connecticut State University field hockey team as they dropped a tight contest, 3-2, with the visiting Wilkes University Colonels on Senior Day at the Westside Stadium on Saturday. WestConn dropped to 3-3, while Wilkes moved to 5-3.

WestConn notched two straight tallies for an early 2-0 lead at 6:42 in the first quarter. One minute into the opening period, Schoen blew past Colonel defenders for her sixth goal of the season, followed by her second goal on the night five and a half minutes later. Jaelyn Moulton (Stafford Springs, Conn.) sent it towards the goal as Wilkes goalkeeper Chloe Gilroy kicked it away, but Schoen was there to sneak it past Gilroy for the Wolves' second unanswered goal.

Wilkes narrowed the gap by one at 12:37 with a goal by Olivia Gayoski in the first quarter. The visitors knotted the game 10 minutes into the second thanks to Emma Lautenbacher, before Wilkes took the lead with 19 seconds remaining in the half as Taylor Bower tabbed the eventual game-winning goal.

WestConn had five close chances to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but Wilkes stood tall in the defensive zone. At 13:02 in the final stanza, the Wolves drew a penalty corner, inserted by Alyssa Montalvo (Holbrook, N.Y.) but two blocked shots by Schoen and Ruiz kept the 3-2 Wilkes edge.

WestConn made a bold move to pull goalkeeper Jaden Kilmer (East Islip, N.Y.) to allow for another offensive player to help push the offense. Moulton battled with Gilroy in front of the net for a saved shot on goal before falling to her knees as the Colonels denied another close attempt to knot the score. Schoen's far shot from the right of the goal doinked off the post with under a minute and a half left to play. Jayne Hughes (Trumbull, Conn.) also attempted to even it up with 11 seconds in regulation, but Gilroy saved the shot.

Ruiz was also a force to be reckoned with as the senior had three blocked shots and disrupted a close penalty corner attempt at 7:54 in the third period. WestConn outshot Wilkes 12-10, but the Colonels edged the Wolves in corners 9-2.

The Wolves remain at home to host Drew University on September 24 at 7 p.m.