Middletown, R.I. (November 17, 2023) - The Golden Bears headed to St. George's Ice Rink in Middletown, R.I. for a matchup with the No. 10 Salve Regina University Seahawks for the first time this season. The Seahawks grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first period and followed it up with two goals in the third to beat the Golden Bears 3-0.

• Western New England: 2-4-1 (1-3-1)
• Salve Regina University: 7-1-0 (5-0-0)

How it Happened:

With Anthony Aureliano in net for the Golden Bears and Cayden Bailey across the ice in net for the Seahawks, the game got started. Logan Calder won the opening faceoff. The teams started the game with back-and-forth action. Both teams were getting shots off, but the Seahawks had more opportunities early. The Seahawks had the first penalty with 9:19 left in the first period. That gave the Golden Bears the first power play opportunity. The Golden Bears had two shots during the power play, with one shot testing Bailey. Bailey would make the save and keep the game even through the WNE power play. Soon after the penalty was completed, the Seahawks were called for another penalty, and the Golden Bears were back on the power play. The Golden Bears got two shots off with one on net to start the power play. The Seahawks also got a shot on net during the beginning of the penalty kill. With 4:30 left in the first period, the Seahawks would score a shorthanded goal to give them the 1-0 lead. Parker Mabbett was able to take the puck into the Golden Bears' defensive zone. Mabbett sent a pass to Matthew Brunton on the other side of the ice, who was able to send the puck past the goalie to give the Seahawks the lead. WNE was called for a penalty after the goal, and the teams skated with four players on the ice for each team. The Seahawks had the final eight shots of the period after the goal. All of the shots got to Aureliano, who made every save. The Golden Bears were losing by one after one period. Shots on goal for the first period saw Salve Regina hold the lead, 15-4.

The second period started with another Logan Calder faceoff win. The Seahawks kept the pressure on the Golden Bears with nine out of the first ten shots of the period. The Golden Bears tried to switch the momentum with four shots of their own. The momentum went back to Salve Regina, who had four of the next five shots. The momentum shifted from team to team. Then, a penalty was called on the Golden Bears with 7:04 left in the second period. Despite being on the penalty kill, the Golden Bears had three of the four total shots during the Seahawk power play. Kyle Knight had a major opportunity with 4:50 left in the second period. Knight had a shot hit the pipe. The Seahawks responded with eight of the final ten shots on net after that opportunity from the Golden Bears and were still in the lead at the end of two periods. The shots on goal for the second period saw the Seahawks lead again by a score of 12-7. The score was still 1-0 after two periods of play. 

Matt Dougherty flipped the script and won the opening faceoff of the third period. Again, the teams would both have chances. However, neither team could change the score. That was, until the 8:52 mark left in the third period of play. After a shot by Jonathan Hammel hit the pipe and went out of play, the teams had another faceoff. After the Golden Bears failed to clear the puck, Ian Tookenay got the puck and sent a wrist shot that went over the goalie's shoulder, and just like that, the Seahawks had doubled their lead. The teams both went back and forth with shots again after the goal. With 5:51 left in the third period, the Golden Bears were called for a penalty, and the Seahawks went back on the power play. The Seahawks notched six shots during the power play, with two of the shots being at Aureliano, who saved both. The Seahawks would then be called for a penalty almost a minute and a half after the end of the Golden Bear penalty. The Golden Bears went on the power play and pulled the goalie. Johnny Mulera would get a shot off for the Seahawks, 12 seconds into the WNE power play and score. Josh Kroon and Damon Zimmer had the assists. The Golden Bears were losing 3-0. There were no more shots after that for the rest of the game, and it sealed a 3-0 loss for the Golden Bears. The final stats showed the Golden Bears got outshot by the Seahawks by a score of 40-14.

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears traveled to Rhode Island to take on No.10 Salve Regina University.
• Matthew Brunton scored the opening goal with 3:50 left in the first period. The goal was assisted by Parker Mabbett. The Seahawks led 1-0.
• Ian Tookenay scored the second Seahawk goal unassisted with 8:52 left in the third period of play. The Seahawks had a 2-0 lead.
• Johnny Mulera scored the empty-net goal with 2:10 left in the game. Mulera was assisted by Josh Kroon and Damon Zimmer. The Seahawks led 3-0. 
• Anthony Aureliano made 37 saves.
• Cayden Bailey made 14 saves and earned a shutout win.
• The Seahawks defeated the Golden Bears 3-0.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears and Seahawks will be back in action at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, Massachusetts, for their next game on Sunday, November 19, at 6:00 PM.