SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 15, 2024) – The Golden Bears hosted No. 8 Curry College at the Olympia Ice Center on Friday in the teams' first meeting this season. The Colonels notched one goal in the first period of play, two in the second, and two in the third to earn the win 5-0 over the Golden Bears.

Records:

Western New England: 1-4-0 (0-3-0)

Curry College: 4-1-0 (2-1-0)

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears and Colonels took the ice at the Olympia Ice Center, with Anthony Aureliano and Shane Soderwall leading the Golden Bears, respectively. The first period of play saw the teams each find opportunities, but it was Curry College controlling the majority of the shot chances. They had three shots during an early power play chance. The Golden Bears would answer with two shots before the Colonels went on an 8-1 run on shots. Aureliano and the Golden Bear defense stood strong and kept the Colonels from scoring originally. The offense responded with three shots, but Soderwall and the Colonels' defense were up to the task of keeping the game scoreless. The Golden Bears were called for a second penalty with just under six minutes remaining in the opening period of the game. The Colonels had four shots during their power play. However, Aureliano saved the two shots sent at him, and Sam Logan blocked a shot. Then, with 3:22 left in the first, Curry College's Victor Daigneault struck with a goal. Grady Friedman would acquire the puck and send it to Jacob Crespo, who sent it to Daigneault in the WNE defensive zone. Daigneault directed the puck past the WNE goalie and into the back of the net for the game's opening goal. The Colonels led 1-0. The Colonels kept the pressure on with two of the next three shots, and then both teams were penalized, and the teams skated 4-on-4. WNE had more shots 4-2 during that 4-on-4 hockey. However, they could not find the back of the net, and the Colonels had a 1-0 lead going into the first intermission. The Colonels led in shots 24-11, shots on goal 17-6, and faceoffs won 9-4. The Golden Bears had more saves, 16-6, and blocked shots 4-1.

The second period of play saw the Colonels double their lead early. The Colonels had the first eight shots of the second and were gaining momentum towards a goal quickly. The Golden Bears had a shot, looking to slow the Curry College momentum. However, after the save by Soderwall, Soderwall found Manny Cabral with a pass skating up the ice. Cabral found Alex Duncan, who was able to find the back of the WNE net with a shot that doubled the lead 3:05 into the second period of play. The Colonels led 2-0. The Golden Bears would start to find some momentum and success. They had three of the next four shots before gaining a power play chance. They then had four shots on the power play but could not find the goal. They had the next two shots after the power play also. However, the Colonels had four of the next five shots to slow the WNE momentum. WNE responded with three of the next four shots, but the Colonels answered with a shot and then a goal. George Vonakis would take the puck away from WNE and find Killian Rowlee, who found the back of the WNE net with a shot. The Colonels led 3-0 with 5:29 left in the second. The Colonels kept the shots going with seven of the last eight shots of the second period of play. They tested the Golden Bear defense and Aureliano over and over, looking for the fourth goal, but the Golden Bears would keep the score at 3-0 Colonels leading into the third and final period of play. Shots were in favor of the Colonels 21-14 in the middle period of play. Shots on goal were also in the Colonels' favor, 15-12. The Golden Bears had more saves, 13-12, blocked shots, 5-2, and faceoff wins, 12-7.

The final period of play saw the Colonels gain two more goals to extend their lead to 5-0. The Colonels earned an early power play chance. They had five shots during the power play but could not find a fourth goal. The teams then traded two shots at a time until the Golden Bears earned a power play. The teams traded shots during the power play, and the Colonels killed it off. Curry College had the next four shots, which included a goal by Curry College's Henry Wilson. Max Lundgren found Cole Weinger with a quick pass. Weinger found Henry Wilson, who would send the puck past the WNE goalie for the fourth Curry College goal of the game. The Colonels led 4-0 6:32 into the third. Luca Scaglione would enter at goalie for the first time as a Golden Bear this season. The teams traded shots before a Curry College power play. After a WNE shot, Jacob Crespo would start the counterattack. Crespo found Gayfullin, who sent a pass to Alex Duncan, who sent the puck crashing into the WNE net to make the score 5-0 Colonels 9:13 into the third. The power play ended a minute later, and soon after, the Golden Bears were back on the power play. The Golden Bears were called for a penalty three seconds later, and the teams skated 4-on-4. The Colonels had the next six shots, but the Golden Bears kept them from tacking on another goal. The Colonels did not stop pressuring the Golden Bears with shots. The Golden Bears would get a penalty late in the third period of play, and the Colonels ended the game on the power play. They would not score, and the game would end with Curry College winning 5-0. The final stats saw the Colonels leading in shots 68-34 and shots on goal 50-23. The Golden Bears had more faceoff wins 29-27, blocked shots 11-4, and saves 45-23.

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears hosted the Colonels on Friday evening.
• 1st 16:38 – Victor Daigneault opened the scoring with a goal assisted by Jacob Crespo and Grady Friedman. The Colonels led 1-0.
• 2nd 3:05 – Alex Duncan doubled the Colonels' lead with a goal assisted by Manny Cabral and Shane Soderwall. The Colonels led 2-0.
• 2nd 14:31 – Killian Rowlee gave the Colonels a three-goal lead. George Vonakis assisted Rowlee on the goal. The Colonels led 3-0.
• 3rd 6:32 – Henry Wilson extended the Colonels' lead with a goal assisted by Cole Weinger and Max Lundgren. The Colonels led 4-0.
• 3rd 9:13 – Alex Duncan netted a shorthanded goal assisted by Karim Gayfullin and Jacob Crespo. The Colonels led 5-0.
• Anthony Aureliano made 36 saves, and Luca Scaglione made nine saves for the Golden Bears.
• Shane Soderwall made 23 saves to earn the Colonels a shutout victory.
• The Colonels beat the Golden Bears 5-0.

Up Next on the Schedule:

The two teams will travel to the Canton Ice House on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 4:00 PM for their second game of the weekend home-and-home series.