WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 16, 2024) – The Western New England women's ice hockey team scored once in each period for the second straight Saturday at the Olympia Ice Center to come away with their first Conference of New England victory on Saturday night over the Gulls of Endicott College, taking down their opponent by a final score of 3-0 to split the weekend series.

Records:

• Western New England: 5-1, 1-1 CNE
• Endicott College: 3-2, 2-2 CNE

How It Happened:

Kayla Ireland made the start for the Golden Bears, looking to pick up her third victory of the season between the pipes in her third overall game. WNE's first shot on goal would come two minutes into the game when Hannah Baxter tested Endicott's Casey Moritz, though the Endicott keeper would keep the puck out of the goal on the chance. The Gulls would pick up their first shot of the first period three minutes into the contest when Jenna Seibold collected a shot on though Ireland would be up to the task. WNE would see a flurry of shots come through in a row as Alana Bouthillette, Michaela Birmingham, and Julia Roman would fall, get the puck, and attempt shots, though no goals would be scored. At the midway point of the first period, the Golden Bears would again put up shots, taking eight shots in just over a minute span, as Mabel Gerard, Zoe Galanoudis, Alyssa Murphy, Maddie Pope, Hannah Baxter, and Brie Dube would all test the Endicott defense and goalkeeper, though would not be able to score. EC would come back down the ice with four shots in 25 seconds, seeing Teaghan Hall take three of the four shots, all denied by Ireland. Western New England would get their first powerplay chance of the first period and would convert on the chance to go up 1-0. An attempted clear for Endicott would fail as Maddie Pope would tip a clearing attempt to Alexa Paoli at the blue line. Paoli would take a shot that would be deflected in front of the goal by Valerie Duval, who notched her first goal of the season with 2:02 to play in the opening frame, giving the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. WNE would hold that lead after one period of play. Western New England out shot the Gulls 11-6 in the opening frame.

Endicott picked up three quick shots on goal in the second period in the first minute of it to come away with a flurry of chances early, though the Golden Bears and Kayla Ireland would keep the Gulls from scoring. WNE would see their first shot on goal come 3:32 into the period as Alexa Paoli got a shot through to Casey Moritz, though a goal would not be had. The Golden Bears would test Moritz early in the period while Endicott began to build momentum in the second period at the midway point, seeing four straight shots go wide of the net. Rivers Morris would pick up a shot on goal that would test the Golden Bears and Ireland, though would not get past the junior goalkeeper for WNE. Endicott nearly had the first goal of the game when Lilly Corso found a lane and took a shot that would hit the post. Following the Endicott chance, the Golden Bears would move quickly up the ice with just under 30 seconds to play. Paoli would win a board battle and move the puck to Mabel Gerard, who ripped a wicked wrister past Moritz and into the back of the net to give the Golden Bears a 2-0 lead. Gerard picked up her third goal of the season, which gave WNE a 2-0 lead after two periods of play. The Gulls came away with a 13-7 shots advantage in the second period.

Looking to get on the board to cut WNE's lead in half to open the third period, Endicott would control much of the offensive pressure through the opening seven minutes of play. Three shots would be blocked by WNE defenders as Zoe Galanoudis and Kelsey Joiner would stop the Gulls early. The Golden Bears looked to extend their lead with 11 minutes remaining in the game, getting two shots on goal from both Bouthillette and Paoli, though Moritz would stand tall. Endicott would pressure the Golden Bears late in the third period, looking to get back into the game as Abbey Agrondnia would pick up a shot on goal with under four minutes remaining, again saved by Ireland. EC would pull their goalkeeper with 2:33 remaining in the game, though it would come at a cost as Alyssa Murphy would steal the puck in the defensive zone, move forward to the center ice line, and launch the puck into the back of the net, picking up an empty net unassisted tally, giving Western New England a 3-0 lead. Endicott would put up three more shots prior to the final whistle of the game though would not get a shot past Ireland, who earned her third win of the season and first shutout of the year, third of her career, which gave WNE their first CNE win of the season, a 3-0 victory over Endicott College.

Inside the Lines:

• Three different goal scorers for the Golden Bears would push the blue and gold to victory for the second straight Saturday on home ice. Valerie DuVal, Mabel Gerard, and Alyssa Murphy picked up goals for WNE.
• Kayla Ireland made 12 saves in the third period and 31 total saves on the night that sent Western New England to their third shutout win of the season in just six games.
• WNE was 32/52 in the faceoff circle on Saturday night, with both DuVal and Gerard leading the way in the circle, winning 25 faceoffs total for the Golden Bears.
• Western New England blocked 17 shots on the night with Kelsey Joiner picking up six of those blocks.
• WNE defeats Endicott for the second time in their program's history on home ice. This is the first win in regulation over Endicott for the Golden Bears.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• CNE play continues for Western New England as the Golden Bears welcome the University of New England to the Olympia Ice Center on Thursday, November 21 at 7:30 PM.