Springfield, Mass. (December 1, 2023) - The Golden Bears hosted Pride Night during their game against the Nichols College Bison. Both teams were coming off wins and looking to continue the success. The Golden Bears would score early in the game via a power play goal. The Bison would get a quick goal in the second period. Then, the Golden Bears would net three goals in the third period to secure the victory, 4-1.

Records:

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

How it Happened:

With McKenzie Muir in net for the Bison and Kayla Ireland in net for the Golden Bears, the game got underway. Zoe Galanoudis won the opening faceoff for WNE. Thirty-three seconds in, the Golden Bears were on the penalty kill. The Bison had two shots during the power play, with one being saved by Ireland. The Golden Bears also had a shot on goal during the Bison power play. The shot was saved by Muir. The penalty kill led to momentum for the Golden Bears. A penalty was called on the Bison, and the Golden Bears were on the power play. They got shot after shot off, and eventually, Maggie Holt would score. Abby Hay would pass the puck to Alyssa Murphy, who redirected the pass to Holt. Holt sent a wrist shot at the net and scored. The Golden Bears led 1-0, just 5:52 into the game. The teams would go back and forth after that, with the Golden Bears having most of the shots. However, they could not get that second goal. With 3:19 left in the opening period of play, the Golden Bears went back on the power play. The Golden Bears had three shots during the power play, but none were on goal. The opening period of play ended shortly after. The Golden Bears led 1-0 with 24 total shots and 13 shots on goal. The Bison had 14 total shots and six shots on goal. WNE led in faceoffs 10-5 and power play opportunities, 2-1.

The second period started with a Zoe Galanoudis faceoff win for WNE. Thirty-one seconds into the second period, the Bison would get the equalizing goal. Kayla Currin intercepted a WNE pass and fed the puck to Grace Wiggett, who scored. The score was tied 1-1. After that, the teams would go back and forth with shots on goal. That would be until the 9:02 mark in the second period when the Bison were called for a penalty. The Golden Bears went on the power play and had two shots, with one on Muir. The Golden Bears would keep pushing for a second goal, but no luck. Then, with 2:46 left in the second period of play, WNE went back on the power play. The Golden Bears had two shots with one shot on goal. Muir made the save. The Bison had a short-handed shot that Ireland made a save on. The second period ended shortly after, with the score tied 1-1. The Golden Bears had 18 shots with nine shots on goal. The Bison had nine shots with six on goal. The Bison led 9-5 on saves, and the Golden Bears led in faceoffs won by a score of 11-6. The Golden Bears had both power play opportunities during the second period of play.

The third period started with Grace Wiggett winning the opening faceoff for the Bison. It led to both teams going back and forth with scoring opportunities. Then, with 11:54 left in the game, the Bison went on the power play. However, 36 seconds later, the Bison were called for a penalty, and the teams would skate 4-on-4. Then, Ziya Damas would net the second goal for the Golden Bears. Alexa Paoli found Damas on the right side of the net. Damas skated in a little and snuck the puck past the goalie to give the Golden Bears the lead, 2-1. The Golden Bears followed the goal with two shots on goal that Muir had to save.

Then, with 10:27 left in the game, Maddie Pope doubled the Golden Bears' lead. Alyssa Murphy would skate towards the left side of the net and send a shot at Muir. The shot was saved, but it rebounded to Pope, who scored. The Golden Bears now led 3-1. The Golden Bears had a quick power play after the goal but had no shots on goal. WNE went back on the power play with 9:10 left in the game. They had two shots on goal that were saved by Muir before Maddie Pope netted a second goal of the game. Alyssa Murphy passed the puck to Maggie Holt. Holt passed it to Pope, who sent a quick wrist shot past the goalie to extend the WNE lead to 4-1 with 7:47 left in the game. After the three quick goals from the Golden Bears, the game went back to back-and-forth action, with both teams having scoring opportunities. The game would not see another goal and the game would finish with the Golden Bears getting the victory by a score of 4-1. The Golden Bears had 65 total shots with 41 shots on goal. The Bison had 31 shots with 17 shots on goal. The Golden Bears won 32 of the 55 faceoffs and had two power play goals.

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears hosted Pride Night at Olympia Ice Center when they played the Nichols College Bison on Friday night.
• Maggie Holt scored the game's first goal 5:52 into the game on a power play. Alyssa Murphy and Abby Hay were credited with the assists. The score was 1-0.
• Grace Wiggett tied the game 1-1 with a goal 31 seconds into the second period. Kayla Currin had the assists.
• Ziya Damas gave the Golden Bears the lead back with 10:53 left in the game. Alexa Paoli had the assist on the goal. The score was 2-1.
• Maddie Pope had the third Golden Bear goal with 10:28 left in the game. Alyssa Murphy had the assist. The score was 3-1 Golden Bears. 
• Maddie Pope had a second goal with 7:47 left in the game. The goal was assisted by Alyssa Murphy and Maggie Holt. The Golden Bears led 4-1.
• McKenzie Muir had 37 saves for the Bison.
• Kayla Ireland had 16 saves for the Golden Bears.
• The Golden Bears won 4-1.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The teams will travel to Levi Rink, the Bison's home rink in Harrisville, R.I., for the second game of the home-and-home series. They will play at 4:40 PM on Saturday, December 2, 2023.