WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 19, 2024) – The Golden Bears returned to the ice at the Olympia Ice Center on Friday afternoon for a matinee matchup with the Colonels of Curry College. After back-to-back losses, the team was looking to bounce back with a big conference win. The Colonels had other plans. The
first period of play had four goals scored, with three being by Curry College and one by WNE. After a scoreless second period of play, the Golden Bears would get another goal back. However, the Colonels would finish the game without letting up another goal, and the Golden Bears would fall to the Colonels 3-2.

Records:
?      Western New England: 4-11-2 (1-7-2)
?      Curry College: 12-4-1 (7-3-0)

How it Happened:

On Friday, the Golden Bears and Colonels jumped on the ice for a CCC matinee matchup at the Olympia Ice Center. The Golden Bears had Anthony Aureliano in net, and the Colonels had Shane Soderwall opposing Aureliano. The puck was dropped, and Nolan Dawson won the faceoff for the Golden Bears and started the game. After the Colonels had the opening shot saved, they would skate back down the ice and score the opening goal. Gage Dill skated down the right side of the ice and passed the puck to Eelis Laaksonen, who skated to the right of the goalie and sent a pass across the crease to Tao Ishizuka, who deflected the puck into the back of the net for the goal. The score was 1-0, with Curry College in the lead, 1:27 into the game. The Colonels kept the pressure on the Golden Bears with five shots in a row after that. Three of the shots were on goal, with two being saved and the third shot on goal being the second goal of the game. After the Golden Bears could not clear the puck from their defensive zone, Tao Ishizuka pushed it to JP Moreira. Moreira waited and then sent a wrist shot past Aureliano for the goal. The Colonels led 2-0, 3:26 into the game. The game started back up, and the Colonels kept pressuring the Golden Bears. The Colonels had the next four shots, with three being on goal and saved by Aureliano. The Golden Bears would answer with two shots that Soderwall had to save and a third that went wide of the net. 

Then, 7:54 into the game, the Colonels netted their third goal. The puck was sent into the WNE defensive zone. The Golden Bears tried to clear it, but Ryan Prewitt kept the puck in the zone. Prewitt sent a shot at the net that Manny Cabral redirected into the back of the net. The Colonels were now leading 3-0. The Golden Bears tried to flip the script with three shots after that, to which the Colonels answered with seven shots. The Colonels would draw a penalty and go on the power play. Just as the Golden Bears thought everything was against them, Justin Sullivan delivered a shorthanded, breakaway goal that made the score 3-1. The Colonels turned the puck over in the WNE defensive zone, and the puck fell into open ice. Matty Zdanowicz dove and hit the puck to Sullivan, who skated down and scored with 3:59 left in the opening period of play. Curry College only led 3-1 now. A penalty was called after the goal that led to 4-on-4 hockey. The Colonels ended the first with seven shots to one by the Golden Bears. The teams entered the first intermission, with the Colonels leading 3-1. The Colonels led in shots on goal 17-6 in the first. They also led in faceoff wins 7-5. Both teams had one power play opportunity during the first, and the Golden Bears led in saves 14-5.

The second period of play was much different than the first. It started with Jordie Morgan winning the opening faceoff for the Golden Bears. The teams traded shots at the beginning of the second. Then, a penalty was called on the Golden Bears, and the Colonels had a power play opportunity. Shots were 4-2 in favor of the Colonels during the power play. The teams would return to trading shots; however, the Golden Bears were starting to skate with the Colonels better and had more and more opportunities as the second period of play continued. The Colonels would have seven shots in a row halfway through the second. The Golden Bears answered with a few shots of their own. Neither goalie let up a goal in the second. The Golden Bears were called for a penalty towards the end of the second, and the Colonels had another power play opportunity. Four shots were taken by the Colonels during the power play, with Aureliano having to make one save. The teams would go back and forth for the rest of the second. During the second period of play, the Colonels led in shots on goal, 16-7, power play opportunities 2-0, and faceoff wins 13-7. The Golden Bears had more saves, 16-7. The Colonels led the game 3-1, with one period of play remaining.

The final period of play started with Taurin Haddon-Harris winning the opening faceoff for the Colonels. The Colonels would have a couple of shots before the Golden Bears answered with two. The second shot went into the net from Nolan Dawson. Rais Francis sent a shot wide of the net. Nolan Dawson trailed the play, and after the puck went past Francis and a Colonel defender, Dawson snapped a quick wrist shot into the top-right corner of the net. The Golden Bears now trailed 3-2 with 18:29 left in the game. The Colonels had the majority of the possession, having sixteen shots to the Golden Bears' four. They kept the pressure on the Golden Bears, but with 4:34 left in the game, the Golden Bears went on the power play after a Colonel penalty. The Golden Bear penalty saw two shots, with one shot on goal from the Colonels. The teams would trade shots, and the Golden Bears would pull their goalie at the end, but no more goals from either team. The game ended with the Colonels winning. The Colonels finished with 51 total shots on goal. The Golden Bears finished with 16. The faceoffs were 31-18 in favor of the Colonels. The Colonels had three power plays, and the Golden Bears had two. The game ended with the Golden Bears falling to the Colonels 3-2. 

Inside the Crease:

• Men's Ice Hockey hosted the Colonels in CCC conference play on Friday afternoon.
• Tao Ishizuka scored the opening goal for the Colonels 1:27 into the game. The goal was assisted by Gage Dill and Eelis Laaksonen. The Colonels led 1-0.
• The second goal for the Colonels was at 3:26 into the game and was scored by JP Moreira. Tao Ishizuka had the assist. The Colonels led 2-0.
• The Colonels scored a third goal 7:54 into the opening period of play. Manny Cabral scored the goal, assisted by Ryan Prewitt. The Colonels led 3-0.
• The Golden Bears got a goal back 16:01 into the first. Justin Sullivan netted the shorthanded goal, which was assisted by Matty Zdanowicz. The Colonels now led 3-1.
• Nolan Dawson netted the second goal for the Golden Bears 1:31 into the final period of play. Rais Francis had the assist. The score was 3-2 Colonels.
• Anthony Aureliano made 48 saves.
• Shane Soderwall made 14 saves and earned the win.
• The Colonels won the game 3-2.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The two teams will travel out to Canton, Massachusetts, for the second leg of the home-and-home series between the teams. That game will take place on Saturday, January 20, at 3:00 PM.