Skip To Main Content

Western New England University

The Official Home of Western New England University Athletics
MIH 10.28
2
Western New Eng. WESTERN 1-1-0
6
Winner Westfield St. WESTFIEL 2-0-0
Western New Eng. WESTERN
1-1-0
2
Final
6
Westfield St. WESTFIEL
2-0-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Western New Eng. WESTERN 1 1 0 2
Westfield St. WESTFIEL 0 4 2 6

Game Recap: Men's Ice Hockey |

Men’s Ice Hockey Comes Up Short in Western Massachusetts Invitational Championship Game

WESTFIELD, Mass. (October 28, 2023) – The Western New England men's ice hockey team scored the first two goals of the Western Massachusetts Invitational Championship Game though could not fend off the hosting Owls of Westfield State University as the Owls came away with a 6-2 victory over the Golden Bears to win their first Alumni Cup. 

Records:
  • Western New England: 1-1
  • Westfield State: 2-0
How it Happened:
Western New England came away with their first goal of the night at the midway point of the first period when Shane Miller picked up his first goal of the season on an assist from Brayden Patricia to give the blue and gold an early 1-0 lead. Western New England outshot the Owls in the first period 10-7, with starting goalkeeper Anthony Aureliano coming away with all seven saves.

Chris Hibson came away with his first goal in the blue and gold uniform at the 7:02 mark of the second period when Justin Sullivan fed the first-year a pass, giving Western New England a 2-0 lead. Rais Francis recorded his second assist in as many nights for the Golden Bears, giving WNE a 2-0 lead. Westfield State would quickly pour it on WNE from there, scoring three goals in just over two minutes as Gianluca Marini, Ryan O'Halloran, and Niklas Vasijevs recorded goals for the Owls as the home team quickly flipped the script on the Golden Bears to take a 3-2 lead. Westfield State would add a tally at the 14:18 mark of the second period when Christopher Miraldo recorded a goal to give Westfield a 4-2 lead after two periods of play. Westfield State took 17 shots in the period, while Western New England took 14, with 13 of those saved by Owls goalkeeper Kevin Chandler.

In the third period, Westfield State would ice the game with an early goal against Andrew LoRusso, who replaced Aureliano when Andreas Felutot put up a big goal for the Owls. WNE would fight, putting together 11 shots on goal in the third period, with all 11 shots being saved by the Owls goalkeeper. Westfield State would add one final insurance marker at the end of the third period, as Westfield State would win the Western Massachusetts Invitational Championship game by a final score of 6-2.

Inside the Box: 
  • After scoring the first two goals of the game, WNE saw Westfield State score six unanswered goals to take a 6-2 win. Five different goal scorers would lead the Owls to their first Western Mass Invitational championship game victory.
  • Both Shane Miller and Chris Hibson recorded their first goals of the season for the Golden Bears in the setback.
  • WNE goalkeeping combined for 32 saves on 38 shots faced, with Anthony Aureliano recording 21 saves while Andrew LoRusso picked up 11 saves.
  • Brayden Patricia won six of eight faceoffs while picking up an assist for WNE.
Up Next on the Schedule:
  • WNE opens conference play on Friday, November 3 at 8:00 p.m. when the Nor'easters from the University of New England visit the Olympia Ice Center.
Print Friendly Version