Harrisville, R.I. (December 2, 2023) - The Golden Bears traveled to Rhode Island for their second game in as many nights against the Nichols College Bison. Julia Roman would net the only goal of the game and help the Golden Bears earn a 1-0 win.

Records:

• Western New England: 5-2-2 (4-2-1)
• Nichols College: 4-5-0 (1-5-0)

How it Happened:

The game started with Rieley Jessie-Gerelli in net for the Golden Bears and McKenzie Muir in net for the Bison. Leah Dube won the faceoff for the Golden Bears, and the game was underway. The teams picked up where they left off the night before. They went back and forth with shots on goal. Both Jessie-Gerelli and Muir were making each save. It continued that way for the entire first period of play. After one period of play, the score was knotted at 0-0. Nichols had more total shots, 17-14, but WNE had more shots on goal, 9-8. Both teams had seven faceoffs won.

Grace Melanson won the second period opening faceoff. WNE started the second period with pressure, getting four straight shots off with three on net. Muir made each save. After that, the teams returned to back-and-forth action, with both teams getting shots on net. With 9:41 left in the middle period of play, the Golden Bears were called for a penalty, and the Bison went on the power play. The Bison had six shots on the power play, with four of them being on net and being saved by Jessie-Gerelli. Then, shortly after the first power play ended, the Golden Bears were called for a second penalty. The Bison had ten shots with eight shots on net. Jessie-Gerelli kept the score tied at zero. The Golden Bears would take the Bison pressure and then counter, and with 3:44 left in the second period, Julia Roman would intercept a clearing attempt from the Bison, and send the puck back at the net, and it went in. The Golden Bears led 1-0. Both teams would get a few more shots off before the period ended. The Golden Bears had the lead 1-0 after two periods of play. Shots favored the Bison in the second period 29-15, with shots on goal being in favor of the Bison 15-10. Nichols had more faceoffs won, too, 14-10. 

The third period started with a Grace Melanson faceoff win for the Bison. Again, the Golden Bears started off strong with five shots and Muir having three saves. Then, Nichols would have a shot, and it would be followed by the Golden Bears having eight of the next nine shots. The Golden Bears were pressuring the Bison and not allowing them to get the equalizing goal. Then, with 9:35 left in the game, the Bison went on the power play. Nichols had five shots during the power play, with one shot on Jessie-Gerelli, and it was saved. Shortly after that penalty expired, the Bison were called for a penalty, and the Golden Bears were on the power play. The Golden Bears had three shots saved by Muir, and the Bison had a shot saved by Jessie-Gerelli before the end of the power play. Nine seconds after the end of the penalty, both teams were called for a penalty, and the teams skated 4-on-4. Both teams had four shots each before WNE was called for a penalty, and the Bison had a power play. The Bison had six shots on the power play but no goal. The Bison would get a shot off right at the end of the game, but it would not get to Jessie-Gerelli, and the Golden Bears would seal up a 1-0 win. The Bison outshot the Golden Bears 66-49 in total shots during the game. The Golden Bears had 31 shots on goal compared to the 29 from the Bison. The Bison won the faceoff battle 38-23, and Jessie-Gerelli was credited with the shutout win.

Inside the Crease:

• WNE traveled to play Nichols College in Harrisville, R.I. 
• Julia Roman scored the only goal of the game with 3:44 left in the second period. The goal was unassisted. The Golden Bears led 1-0.
• McKenzie Muir had 30 saves for the Bison.
• Rieley Jessie-Gerelli had 29 saves and a shutout win for the Golden Bears.
• The Golden Bears won 1-0.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will be back on the ice on Friday, December 8, 2023, when they head to the Koepel Community Sports Center in Hartford, Connecticut, to take on Trinity College. That game will be at 7:30 PM.
• Nichols College will host Anna Maria College in their next game. It will be a home game at Levy Rink in Harrisville, R.I., at 3:40 PM on Friday, December 8, 2023.