Box Score WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 14, 2023) – The Western New England women's ice hockey team tallied four goals on their way to a 4-1 victory over the Seahawks of Salve Regina University on Saturday night from the Olympia Ice Center, sweeping the weekend series from the Seahawks and grabbing a program record 10th win of the season.
Records:
- Western New England: 10-3-2, 6-3-2 CCC
- Salve Regina: 6-9, 1-8 CCC
How it Happened:
Western New England needed just 3:53 to get on the board first in the contest as Maddie Pope continued her scoring ways, netting the games first goal. After the puck was lost by the Seahawks, Pope would pick up a pass from teammate Maggie Holt and bury it into the top middle of the net to give Western New England the 1-0 lead. Salve Regina would have their chances in the opening period, outshooting Western New England 9-6 in the game, though GK Kayla Ireland would come up big, making all nine saves.
Salve Regina would flip the script in the second period, dominating for most of the frame. Western New England had little opportunity on the offensive end though came away with a goal in the period on the one chance they did have. After the puck was rung around the boards in the offensive zone, Alyssa Murphy would pick up the puck and send it in front of the net where Julia Roman was skating. Roman was able to puck the puck into the back of the net, scoring her first collegiate goal for Western New England and giving WNE a 2-0 lead. WNE would see Salve come away with 22 shots on goal in the period, though the Seahawks would come up empty on the scoreboard as Ireland made all 22 saves and 31 total in the game through 40 minutes of play.
After a tight back and forth first half of the third period, Salve Regina would score their first goal of the weekend against Western New England when Gave Dumond would collect a goal off a wrist shot from the point to get the Seahawks on the board. Jennifer Rickard and Maddie Cox would pick up assists on the goal as Salve pressured to get back into the contest. WNE would draw a penalty and capitalize on their PP chance when Allison Walker zoomed the puck to the point where Alexa Paoli would take a quick shot that was perfectly tipped in front by Zoe Galanoudis, giving WNE their two-goal lead back, standing at 3-1. The Golden Bears would finish off Salve Regina after an error pass by a Seahawks defender would end up on the tape of Maddy Tucker, who tucked the puck into the back of the net to give Western New England a 4-1 lead, a lead they would hold for the final 53 seconds of the contest as the Golden Bears would secure the three-goal victory.
Inside the Numbers:
- Maddie Pope delivered another WNE goal on the night, her team leading 12th goal of the season. With the goal Pope now leads the CCC in goals and points (17).
- After grabbing three assists in 22 games played last year, junior Julia Roman scored her first career goal on the night, scoring the game winning goal for the Golden Bears. Roman is the fourth Golden Bear to register her first career goal this season.
- GK Kayla Ireland stood tall for Western New England collected 42 saves on 43 shots faced, wining her third game of the season.
- Salve Regina outshot WNE 43-19 in the contest though went 0-2 on their two PP chances.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- WNE schedules a home and home with Worcester State University, beginning on Friday, January 20 at 8:00 from the Worcester Ice Center.
- Salve Regina meets Endicott College on the same date.
