Springfield, Mass. (January 6, 2024) – After a 7-0 win the night before against Anna Maria College, the Golden Bears returned to home ice on Saturday night as they played Worcester State University at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, Massachusetts. WNE would notch a goal in the first. Worcester State would even the score at one in the second. Then, after a goalless third period of play, the game would head to overtime, where Allison Walker would net the game-winning goal. Alexa Paoli and Allison Walker led the Golden Bears with one goal each.
Records:
? Western New England: 8-3-2 (6-2-1)
? Worcester State University: 5-8-1 (4-1-1)
How it Happened:
The Golden Bears and Lancers skated onto the ice, with Kayla Ireland and Kelsey Czerniawski leading the teams, respectively. The puck dropped, Allison Walker won the opening faceoff, and the game was underway. Alyssa Murphy had the opening shot on goal, which was saved by Czerniawski. The Golden Bears would get seven shots on goal before the Lancers tested Ireland. Czerniawski made each save to keep the score tied at zero. The Lancers would respond with four shots on goal of their own. Then, with 5:45 left in the first period of play, the Golden Bears went on the power play after a penalty was called on the Lancers. The Golden Bears had nine shots during the power play, with four of the shots being on goal.
However, Czerniawski kept the Golden Bears from scoring. The teams went back and forth with shots before Alexa Paoli would break the tie. Kelly Yorkey got the puck to Maddie Pope. Pope sent a shot at Czerniawski, who made the save. However, Paoli was there to send the puck into the goal. The Golden Bears had a 1-0 lead with 1:40 left in the first period of play. The Golden Bears would be called for a penalty at the end of the first period, but soon after, the opening period of play ended with the Golden Bears up one. The stat sheet for the opening period of play saw the Golden Bears lead in shots on goal 14-5 and total shots 21-13. Both teams had a power play opportunity and no goals during them. The score was 1-0, Golden Bears, after the first.
The second period of play started with Allison Walker winning the faceoff and the Lancers still on the power play. Both teams had a shot on goal during the power play. Three minutes into the second, the Lancers were called for a penalty, and the Golden Bears returned to the power play. The Golden Bears had five shots with three shots on goal. A few seconds later, the Golden Bears were back on the power play. They accumulated four shots with two on goal. Each was saved by Czerniawski. With 5:42 left in the second period of play, the Lancers went on the power play. After a blocked shot, the Lancers would equalize with a goal from Jennarae Bateman. Bateman tipped in a shot from Katie Puumala, which was sent to Puumala from Ellen Cook. The score was now 1-1 with 4:40 left in the second period of play. After the Lancer goal, the teams went back and forth with shots from both sides. Neither team could break the tie before the end of the second. During the second period of play, WNE outshot WSU 21-16 and had more shots on goal by a tally of 11-4. The Lancers were 1-1 on the power play during the second, and the Golden Bears were 0-2. The game was tied 1-1 after two periods of play.
The third period of play started with Cailey Ryan winning the faceoff for the Lancers. The teams traded shots back and forth during the beginning of the third. Both Czerniawski and Ireland made save after save. The Lancers would put pressure on the Golden Bears with five shots in a row on goal. They would continue to send shots toward the WNE net, but Ireland and the defense kept the puck out of the net and sent the game to overtime with the score deadlocked at one goal per side. After the third, the Lancers had outshot the Golden Bears 19-12 and had twelve shots on goal compared to the Golden Bears' six.
In overtime, Amy MacGlashing won the opening faceoff for the Lancers. Both teams would then have a few shots that were not on goal. Then, with 2:13 left in overtime, Maddy Tucker passed the puck to Allison Walker, who sent it to Jenna Lynch. Jenna Lynch shot the puck past the goal, and it deflected off the boards to Walker on the other side of the net, who pushed the puck into the goal for the overtime winner. The Golden Bears had 32 shots on goal compared to the 21 from the Lancers. The Lancers won 28 faceoffs to the Golden Bears' 27. The Lancers had three penalties, and the Golden Bears had two. The Golden Bears won the game 2-1 in overtime.
Inside the Crease:
? WNE welcomed Worcester State University to the Olympia Ice Center for a Saturday night game.
? Alexa Paoli notched the first goal of the night for the Golden Bears. Maddie Pope and Kelly Yorkey were credited with the assists. The Golden Bears led 1-0 at the 18:40 mark in the first.
? Jennarae Bateman equalized the game at one goal per side with a power play goal at the 15:20 mark in the second period of play. Katie Puumala and Ellen Cook were credited with the assists. The score was tied, 1-1.
? Allison Walker netted the overtime goal to win the game for the Golden Bears. Jenna Lynch and Maddy Tucker were given the assists. The Golden Bears won 2-1, 2:47 into overtime.
? Kelsey Czerniawski made 30 saves.
? Kayla Ireland made 20 saves and earned the win.
? The Golden Bears won 2-1 in overtime.
Up Next on the Schedule:
? The Golden Bears play their next game on Friday, January 12, at 8:00 PM. They will host Salve Regina University for their first CCC conference game of the 2024 calendar year.
? The Lancers will return to the ice on Tuesday, January 9, at 7:00 PM when they head to the Canton Ice House in Canton, Massachusetts, for a matchup with Curry College.
