O'Dea and Beck record two goals and one assist each for Golden Bears

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 21, 2017) – The Western New England University ice hockey team scored a pair of first period goals and held off a second period rally from Post University to earn a 4-2 victory on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action at the Olympia Ice Center. 

Top Performers
• Western New England's top line accounted for all four Golden Bear goals, as juniors Matt O'Dea (Orland Park, Ill.) and Steve Beck (Milton, N.Y.) recorded two goals and one assist each.
• Senior captain Matt Smethurst (Rexford, N.Y.) tallied three assists.

• Post sophomore forward Tyler Hackett (Branford, Conn.) registered a pair of power play goals for the Eagles.  

Game Review
• After failing to capitalize on consecutive power play chances early in the opening period, the Golden Bears broke through for the game's first goal at the 11:09 mark when O'Dea beat Post freshman netminder Brandon Brown (Hanahan, S.C.) from close range.
• Western New England doubled its lead with 2:39 left in the period when Beck scored on a deflection after junior Edmond Rogers (Creve Coeur, Mo.) ripped a shot from the point.
• The Golden Bears extended their advantage to 3-0 on O'Dea's second goal of the contest at the 12:32 mark of the second period, but Post pulled back to within one as Hackett netted a pair of power play tallies over the final 2:34 of the frame.
• Leading by the same margin late in the third period, Western New England utilized another power play opportunity to seal the contest as Beck buried his second goal of the game and team-leading fifth of the season.

Notes
• Western New England outshot Post 44-23, including 15-4 in the first period and 19-6 in the third.
• The Golden Bears held a 38-23 advantage in the faceoff circle, led by Smethurst's 16-for-23 effort.
• Sophomore goaltender Kyle Carducci (Hartford, Conn.) made 23 saves en route to his first career victory. 

Up Next
Western New England (3-4-1-) will be back in action on Saturday, November 25, as the Golden Bears travel to Manchester, N.H. to take on Southern New Hampshire University at 1:40 p.m. in the first of two games at the Manchester PAL/Stovepipe Tournament. Post (0-7) returns home to host Stonehill next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.