Everett, Mass. (January 27, 2024) – After the loss on Friday night in West Springfield, Massachusetts, the Golden Bears played the Leopards again, but in Everett, Massachusetts, this time. The Leopards would get the game's opening goal in the second period of play. The Golden Bears would tie the game with five seconds left in the second. After no goals in the third, the game went to overtime, where the Leopards would score to win the game, 2-1. Billy Hefferle notched the lone goal for the Golden Bears.

Records:

• Western New England: 4-14-2 (1-10-2)
• Wentworth Institute of Technology: 8-11-1 (4-8-1)

How it Happened:

 The Golden Bears traveled to take on the Leopards of Wentworth Institute of Technology. Andrew LoRusso and Jack McGovern were in net for the Golden Bears and Leopards, respectively. The game started with Dane Probe winning the opening faceoff for the Leopards. Both teams had a few shots in a row to start the game. They went back and forth with two and three shots in a row. Both LoRusso and McGovern made saves. At 9:28 into the game, the Golden Bears were called for a penalty, and the Leopards had their first power play opportunity of the game. The Leopards had one shot, which was saved by LoRusso before the Golden Bears were called for a second penalty. There were no shots during the 5-on-3 power play. However, there was another shot on LoRusso, which was saved during the second power play. That was the only one, and the Golden Bears killed off the penalty. The Leopards had two shots before the third WNE penalty of the opening period of play. The Leopards had five shots with three on goal. All of which were saved by LoRusso. The Golden Bears would go on a 6-1 run on shots to end the first. McGovern had to make two saves and did. After one period of play, shots on goal favored the Leopards 11-7, total shots favored the Leopards 19-14, faceoffs won favored the Golden Bears 7-5, and blocked shots were even 3-3. The Leopards had three power play opportunities in the first. The score was tied 0-0 after one period of play.

The second period of play started with Billy Hefferle winning the opening faceoff for WNE. The beginning of the second was back-and-forth action with no shots originally. The Leopards had the first shot of the second. It was saved by LoRusso. The Leopards then outshot the Golden Bears 5-2 until they were called for a penalty 4:45 into the second. WNE had three shots on the power play, with two saved by McGovern. Just before the end of the power play, the Golden Bears were called for a penalty. The teams played 4-on-4 hockey, with both teams having a shot saved. The Leopards then had six shots during the power play and scored on the sixth shot. Desmond Johnson got the puck from Nolan Lowe, who got it from Nikolas Sombrowski. Johnson sent a shot at net, which got past the Golden Bear goalie for a power play goal. The Leopards led 1-0, 8:10 into the second. The teams would go back and forth with shots for a little while before a penalty was called against the Leopards. The Leopards had two shots to the Golden Bears' one during the Golden Bear power play. Then, WNE would take a timeout. After the timeout, the Golden Bears were a different team. They had seven shots, with four on McGovern. The final shot of the second period of play was a Billy Hefferle goal. Everest Schneider had a shot saved by McGovern. The puck would slide to Jimmy Mettler, who sent a shot at net. Before the puck got to the net, Hefferle tipped it down and into the back of the net. The Golden Bears tied the game at one with five seconds left in the second. The second period of play had a stat line that showed the Leopards lead in shots on goal 11-9 and total shots 16-15. The Golden Bears had more faceoffs won, 17-6, and more power play opportunities 2-1. Both teams blocked two shots. The score was locked at one goal per team after two periods of play.

The Golden Bears won the opening faceoff for the third period of play thanks to Billy Hefferle. The teams would both have shots early in the third. A couple of shots from both teams in a row led to back-and-forth action. The opportunities were there for both teams, but McGovern and LoRusso were making save after save. The defenses were also doing a great job of turning shots wide. Neither team could gain an edge, as well as not being called for a penalty. Play went on rather quickly before the Leopards called a timeout with 2:10 remaining in the third period of play. The Leopards had the final three shots of the third after the timeout. However, LoRusso made each save. The game would go to overtime. The stat line for the third period of play saw the Leopards lead in shots on goal 12-7, total shots 13-9, faceoffs won 15-11, and blocked shots 1-0. The score was tied 1-1 after three periods of play. Overtime would last a minute and seven seconds. Both teams had a shot before George Weiner netted the game-winning goal for the Leopards. Josh Faussett left the puck with Nolan Lowe behind the Leopard net. Lowe flew down the ice, moving from the right side of the ice to the left, and then sent a pass across the ice to George Weiner on the right side of the ice in front of the goal, who dragged the puck and sent it past the goalie. The Leopards won 2-1 in overtime. The final stat line had the Leopards have more shots on goal 36-23, more total shots 49-39, more blocked shots 6-5, and more power play opportunities 4-2. The Golden Bears had more faceoffs won 36-27. 

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears traveled to the Allied Veterans Memorial Rink in Everett, Massachusetts.
• There were no goals in the first period of play.
• Desmond Johnson netted the game's first goal 8:10 into the second period of play. Nolan Lowe and Nikolas Sombrowski assisted the goal. The Leopards led 1-0.
• Billy Hefferle scored a goal for the Golden Bears 19:55 into the second. Jimmy Mettler and Everest Schneider had the assists. The score was tied 1-1.
• There were no goals in the third.
• George Weiner scored the power play goal 1:07 into overtime to win the game 2-1. Nolan Lowe and Josh Faussett had the assists.
• Andrew LoRusso had 34 saves.
• Jack McGovern had 22 saves and earned the win.
• The Leopards won the game 2-1.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will travel to Raymond J. Bourque Arena in Beverly, Massachusetts, for their next game, as they take on the Endicott College Gulls. The game will be played at 7:00 PM on Friday, February 2.
• The Leopards will travel to Harold Alfond Forum in Biddeford, Maine, for their next game. They will take on the University of New England on Friday, February 2, at 7:00 PM.