SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 14, 2016) - Juniors Tyler Pionk (Hermantown, Minn.) and Dane Genord (Grand Blanc, Mich.) each scored late in the third period as the Western New England University ice hockey team earned a 3-3 tie with SUNY Fredonia this afternoon in its non-conference finale at Smead Arena.
 
Making his first start in net for Western New England, freshman goaltender Kevin Gollmer (Flourtown, Pa.) recorded a game-high 44 saves, including 15 in the second period and eight in the five-minute overtime session to preserve the tie.  
 
After falling behind 2-0 midway through the second period on power play goals from SUNY Fredonia freshman Jon Carlson (Fort Frances, Ont.) and sophomore Samuel Wilbur (Saginaw, Mich.), the Golden Bears broke through at the 17:36 mark of the middle frame on freshman Steve Beck's (Milton, N.Y.) second goal of the season. Junior Josh Twietmeyer (Weston, Fla.) sent a pass across the slot to Beck, who buried a shot into the lower left corner of the net to cut Western New England's deficit in half.
 
Still trailing by a goal with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, the Golden Bears equalized on Pionk's one-timer from the point, before pulling ahead with 2:58 on the clock as Genord found the back of the net with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle.
 
The Blue Devils answered just 31 seconds later to tie the game yet again, however, on Wilbur's second goal of the afternoon, sending Western New England to overtime for the second time this season. Gollmer came up big in the extra session, turning back all eight shots that came his way, while SUNY Fredonia senior Jeff Flagler (Owen Sound, Ont.) kept the Golden Bears off the board with a pair of saves. Flagler finished the game with 20 total stops.
 
Both teams used the power play to their advantage, as Western New England went 1-for-3 with a man advantage and SUNY Fredonia capitalized on 2-of-6 opportunities. Freshman Braedan Pearl (L'Orignal, Ont.) led the way for the Golden Bears in the faceoff circle, winning the draw 12 times in 21 chances, while classmate Connor Eckenrod (Ebensburg, Pa.) registered a pair of assists.
 
Western New England (1-12-2, 0-6-0 ECAC NE) now turns its attention to conference play for the remainder of the season, beginning with Saturday's matchup against Endicott. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. at Smead Arena. SUNY Fredonia (5-8-3, 2-5-2 SUNYAC) opens a six-game homestand against Buffalo State next Friday night at 7 p.m.