WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Junior forward Shawn Longley (Lewiston, ME) scored the game-winner at 11:04 of the third period to give the Western New England College men's hockey team an exciting 5-4 victory over Worcester State College in a non-league contest Thursday night (Jan. 18) at the Olympia Ice Center.

Freshman forward Matt Haddock (Hilliard, OH) had another big game for the Golden Bears with a goal and two assists.

Sophomore defensman Joe Balog (Ludlow, MA) and sophomore forward Phil Lamy (Manchester, NH) each contributed a goal and assist  

All of the Western New England College goals came on power plays (five in eight attempts).

Worcester State junior forward Matt Auwarter (Malverne, NY) scored twice, including a short-handed goal just 2:06 into the game. His second goal knotted the game at 4-4 only 26 seconds into the third period.

It was a close contest the entire evening with the game tied 2-2 after the opening 20 minutes. The Golden Bears took a 4-2 lead when sophomore forward Dean Smith (Warwick, RI) scored his first collegiate goal at 11:04 of the middle stanza.

WNEC junior goalie Brandon Gervais (Lewiston, ME) made 20 saves while WSC senior Mark Holman (Lincoln, NE) also stopped 20 shots.

The victory gave the Golden Bears a 7-7 record and avenged an earlier 7-2 loss to the Lancers back on December 16. Worcester State falls to 4-10-1.