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Western New England University

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Men's Ice Hockey 12.2
3
Suffolk SUF 2-9-1, 1-6-1
3
Western New Eng. WNE 2-7-2, 1-5-2
Suffolk SUF
2-9-1, 1-6-1
3
Final
3
Western New Eng. WNE
2-7-2, 1-5-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 OT 1 OT 2 F
Suffolk SUF 1 2 0 0 0 3
Western New Eng. WNE 1 2 0 0 0 3

Game Recap: Men's Ice Hockey |

Nolan Dawson Slots Home Game-Winner in Shootout Versus Suffolk University

Springfield, Mass. (December 2, 2023) - The Golden Bears welcomed the Rams to town for Pride Night and the second game of their home-and-home weekend series with the Rams. The game would see both teams net a goal in the first period. Then, both would score two in the second period to make the game 3-3. After a goalless third period, the teams went to overtime and a shootout. Suffolk would net the first goal and force Justin Sullivan to net a goal to keep the game alive. Then, Nolan Dawson would net the game-winning goal to give the Golden Bears the shootout victory.

  • Western New England: 2-7-2 (1-5-2)
  • Suffolk University: 2-9-1 (1-6-1)

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears and Rams met for the second time in as many days, but this time, at the Olympia Ice Center, the home of the Golden Bears. Anthony Aureliano led the Golden Bears onto the ice, and so did Kannon Flageolle for the Rams. Jordie Morgan won the opening faceoff for the Rams, and the game started. The Golden Bears came out with pressure. They had the first seven shots of the game before the Rams would answer with seven of their own. Both teams kept pressuring the other until a penalty was called on the Golden Bears. Suffolk had two shots on the power play, with one on Aureliano, which was saved. WNE was also able to get a short-handed shot off. The Rams kept the pressure on with seven shots in a row to follow the power play. The Golden Bears had a couple of shots before both teams were called for penalties, and the teams skated 4-on-4. The Golden Bears would maintain the puck, and after a few shots, Finn Bambery would net the first goal of the game. With 8:03 left in the opening period of play, Matt Dougherty would win the faceoff to Matty Zdanowicz, who pushed the puck to Bambery. Bambery sent a quick wrist shot at goal and found the back of the net. The Golden Bears led 1-0. It would not take the Rams long to equalize as with 6:34 left in the first period, Olle Akermark sent a shot at the net that was saved; however, Ryan Webb skated past the net, got the rebound, and scored. The score was now tied 1-1. The teams would go back and forth with shots before the period ended, and the teams would take a break for intermission. The score was 1-1. The Rams had more shots during the opening period of play, 19-16. 

Jordie Morgan won the opening faceoff for the Rams in the second period. After a couple of shots from both teams, the Rams would break the tie. Josh Milso would find Carter Schram with a long pass. Schram had a breakaway opportunity that he would put wide of the net, but the rebound fell right back to Schram, and Schram would knock it into the net. The Rams led 2-1 1:28 into the second period. 2:31 into the second period, the Rams went back on the power play. The Rams had two shots, with one being saved by Aureliano. Shortly after the conclusion of the WNE penalty, Suffolk picked up a penalty. The Golden Bears went on the power play. Both teams had a shot saved by the opposing goalie. Then, 6:57 into the middle period, Shane Miller left the puck for Jimmy Mettler, who skated into the Suffolk zone. Mettler sent the puck back to Kyle Knight, who skated towards the goalie and sent a wrist shot right past the Suffolk goalie for the equalizing goal.

The score was now 2-2. The teams returned to back-and-forth action, with both teams having opportunities but being denied. Then, a penalty on WNE led to a Suffolk power play. The Rams had three shots with two on Aureliano before they scored their third goal of the night on the power play. Devin Lowe would send a pass across the ice to Gavin Havens, who found Jake Grace at the top of the WNE defensive zone. Grace sent a one-timer slap shot at goal, which found the netting for the goal. The Rams led 3-2 with 4:53 left in the second period. The teams would play out the second period with more back-and-forth action. That was until 27 seconds left in the period. Matt Dougherty flew down the right side of the ice and sent a pass behind the net to Matty Zdanowicz. Zdanowicz then fed a pass to Justin Sullivan right in front of the goal. Sullivan lifted the puck over the goalie's shoulder for the equalizing goal. The teams would go into the second intermission tied at three. Shots for the second period favored the Rams 16-9.

The third period got underway with a Golden Bear faceoff win. The teams would go back and forth with shots. Neither defense nor goalie would give an edge. Both teams kept finding opportunities, but they were quickly shut down. The period would go by without a goal or a penalty, and the teams would head to overtime, where they would skate 3-on-3 for five minutes. The Golden Bears would have one more shot than the Rams during the third period by a score of 17-16. Overtime would start with Gavin Havens winning the faceoff for the Rams. The Rams applied pressure early with seven shots in a row. Four shots had to be saved by Aureliano. WNE would get a shot, but then eight more shots from the Rams would finish out the overtime period. There were no goals, so the teams went to a shootout. The teams both had 11 shot takers in the shootout.

Aureliano and Flageolle made the first five saves. Then, Gavin Havens netted a goal for the Rams. Justin Sullivan had to make the shot to keep the game alive for the Golden Bears and did. Each goalie would make four more saves before the eleventh round of the shootout. Anthony Aureliano would make the save against Jake Grace. That led to an opportunity from Nolan Dawson to win the game in a shootout. Dawson skated in, made a quick move, and scored! The Golden Bears won the game in a shootout, 2-1. The total shots after the game saw the Rams have 57 and the Golden Bears had 42. Aureliano made 54 saves, and Flageolle made 39.

Inside the Crease:

  • The Golden Bears were back at the Olympia Ice Center for Pride Night and their game with Suffolk University.
  • Finn Bambery had the opening goal with 8:03 left in the first period. Matty Zdanowicz and Matt Dougherty had the assists. 1-0 Golden Bears.
  • Ryan Webb scored for the Rams with 6:34 left in the first period. Olle Akermark had the assist. The game was tied 1-1.
  • Carter Schram had a goal 1:28 into the second period. Josh Milso had the assist. 2-1 Rams.
  • Kyle Knight equalized for the Golden Bears. Jimmy Mettler and Shane Miller had the assists. It was 2-2 6:57 into the second period. 
  • Jake Grace broke the tie with 4:53 left in the second period. Gavin Havens and Devin Lowe had the assists. 3-2 Rams.
  • Justin Sullivan scored the tying goal with 27 seconds left in the second period. Matty Zdanowicz and Matt Dougherty had the assists. The score was 3-3. 
  • The game went to a shootout, and saw Gavin Havens and Justin Sullivan net goals to keep the game going. Then, after an Anthony Aureliano save, Nolan Dawson scored to give the Golden Bears the 2-1 shootout win.
  • Kannon Flageolle made 39 saves.
  • Anthony Aureliano made 54 saves.
  • The Golden Bears won 2-1 in the shootout.

Up Next on the Schedule:

  • The Golden Bears will travel to Conway Arena in Nashua, New Hampshire, for their next game against Rivier University. That game will be on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 7:10 PM.
  • The Rams will travel to Maine to play the University of Southern Maine Huskies. That game will be on Friday, December 8, 2023, at 7:00 PM.
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