Beverly, Mass. (November 10, 2023) - The Golden Bears were back on the ice for their next conference matchup. It was a meeting with No. 15 Endicott College at the Raymond J. Bourque Arena. Endicott would notch two early goals before WNE would get one back in the second half of the first period. The script flipped in the second period, with WNE scoring two and Endicott getting one. The Gulls would score with 21 seconds left to win the game 4-3.

Records:

• Western New England: 1-2-1 (1-2-0)
• Endicott College: 4-1-0 (2-1-0)

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears and Gulls started the game with Riley Jessie-Gerelli and Casey Moritz in net, respectively. Teaghan Hall would win the opening faceoff, and the game was underway. Both goalies saw shots against them in the opening minutes. However, 4:54 into the game, Samantha Fantasia opened the scoring with a shot on net assisted by Maggie Lynch and Sami Barletta. That was Fantasia's first goal of the season. After that, Avari Maxwell won the faceoff for the Gulls, and they went right back to pressuring the Golden Bears. The Golden Bears would flip the pressure and get two shots on Moritz, who saved them both. They flipped the pressure for a little while, but not for long, as Quin Healy scored for the Gulls. Healy was assisted on the play by Barletta and Rivers Morris. That would give the Gulls a 2-0 lead less than halfway through the first period of play. The Golden Bears would fight back, though.

Both teams sent shots at the other goalie and went back and forth. Both goalies were settling into the game and were turning each shot away. The Golden Bears kept pressing for a goal, and it would come from Alyssa Murphy, who had the goal assisted by Maggie Holt and Maddie Pope with 7:18 left in the opening period of play. That was Murphy's first regular-time goal of the season. It was 2-1, with Endicott leading. The Gulls also received a penalty there, and the Golden Bears were on the power play. The Golden Bears had four shots with three on net during the power play. After shots went back and forth from both teams and with eight seconds left in the first period, the Gulls went on the power play. There were no more shots, and the period ended. At the end of the period, the Gulls led on shots 16-14, and the Golden Bears were 0-for-1 on the power play, with Endicott on the power play going into the second period. The score was 2-1 in favor of Endicott. 

The second period started with an Emmerson Hayes faceoff win for Endicott. The Gulls had one shot during the power play before being called for a penalty, and the teams went to 4-on-4 hockey. WNE had three shots on net that were saved during their second power play. Then, 4:05 into the second period, Alyssa Murphy had the second goal for the Golden Bears to make the score even at two. Murphy was assisted by Jenna Lynch on the goal. However, it did not take the Gulls long to reclaim the lead. 1:04 after the goal, Hayes found the back of the net on a goal that was assisted by Samantha Fantasia and Aurora Devereaux. Hayes' first goal of the season put the Gulls up 3-2.

Then, the Golden Bears were called for a cross-check, and the Gulls were back on the power play. The Gulls had four shots and only one on goal, which Jessie-Gerelli saved. Endicott would get called for a penalty soon after that. The Golden Bears had three shots saved by Moritz before Endicott was called for another penalty, and the Golden Bears were 5-on-3. The Golden Bears had three more shots with two on net during that span of the 5-on-3. Then, four more shots on the following penalty. However, only one shot was on goal, and it was saved by Moritz. The play went back and forth, but the Golden Bears were gaining momentum. It all came together with 2:35 left in the second period when Leah Dube scored unassisted. It was Dube's first goal of the season, and the game was tied 3-3. Endicott finished the second period with a flurry of shots that were all saved by Jessie-Gerelli, and the teams were tied at three going into the third period. The shots on goal favored the Golden Bears by a score of 18-13 in that period. The Gulls had three penalties, and the Golden Bears had one.

Maddie Pope won the opening faceoff for the third period. The teams went back and forth, with both goalies making save after save. WNE was called for a penalty with almost ten minutes left in the period. Endicott had six shots during the power play, with four of the shots on goal. Jessie-Gerelli made each save. The Gulls ramped up the pressure and put shot after shot on Jessie-Gerelli. However, the WNE goalie would not budge. The Golden Bears would go back on the penalty kill with 4:40 left in the game. The Gulls had four shots on net during the power play, with nine shots overall in that penalty. The teams were locked at three with one minute remaining. Then, Endicott struck. With 21 seconds remaining, Maggie Lynch got the assist from Abbey Agrodnia. Lynch would send the puck into the back of the net, and the Gulls defeated the Golden Bears by a score of 4-3. Endicott had 56 shots compared to the 37 shots from the Golden Bears. Both teams had four power plays, and neither could get a goal during the power play. 

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears traveled to Beverly, Massachusetts, for a showdown with the Endicott College Gulls.
• Samantha Fantasia scored the first goal for Endicott 4:54 into the first period. Maggie Lynch and Sami Barletta were credited with the assists. Endicott had the lead 1-0.
• Quin Healy scored the second goal for the Gulls 7:42 into the game. Endicott led 2-0. Rivers Morris and Sami Barletta had the assists.
• Alyssa Murphy scored the first goal of the game for the Golden Bears with 7:18 left in the opening period. Maggie Holt and Maddie Pope had the assists. The score was cut down to 2-1.
• Alyssa Murphy got goal number two for the Golden Bears 4:05 into the second period. Jenna Lynch had the assist. The score was tied at two.
• Emmerson Hayes gave the Gulls the lead back 3-2 5:09 into the second period. Samantha Fantasia and Aurora Devereaux were credited with the assists.
• Leah Dube equalized for the Golden Bears with 2:35 left in the second period to make it 3-3. 
• Maggie Lynch would score the final goal of the game with 21 seconds left in the game to give the Gulls the win. The goal was assisted by Abbey Agrodnia.
• Riley Jessie-Gerelli made 52 saves.
• Casey Moritz made 34 saves.
• The Gulls won 4-3.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Both teams will play again for their second of two weekend games on Saturday, November 11, at 7:00 PM at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, Massachusetts.