BIDDEFORD, Maine (November 23, 2024) – The Western New England women's ice hockey team fell on the road on Saturday evening to the hosting Nor'easters of the University of New England. UNE picked up three first-period goals, which proved to be enough to defeat the Golden Bears by a final score of 3-2.
Records:

• Western New England: 5-3, 1-3 CNE
• University of New England: 3-4, 3-3 CNE

How it Happened:

The Nor'easters were on the board for the first time in the game just five minutes into the frame when Danielle McCarthy found the back of the net after the Golden Bears had the majority of the chances to open the game. McCarthy picked up her second goal of the season to get UNE off and running. WNE would see the Nor'easters carry much of the momentum after the goal, as junior Kayla Ireland would have to stand tall for WNE at the midway point of the first period to keep the Nor'easters from doubling their lead. Western New England would respond with a goal with just over five minutes remaining in the first period to tie the game up when Mabel Gerard scored her fourth goal of the season to even the score. Alyssa Murphy would grab the lone assist on the goal for the Golden Bears as WNE evened the score. The score would stay tied for all of 49 seconds until the Nor'easters were back on the scoreboard again as Adria Tebo found a goal for her second of the season, lifting UNE back to a one-goal lead. The Nor'easters would get a powerplay with 3:12 to play in the first period and would capitalize on their chance to pick up their third goal of the period as Tebo would find the back of the net again, giving UNE a 3-1 lead, a lead they held until the end of the first 20 minutes of play. UNE outshot Wester New England 10-6 in the first frame and took away a two-goal lead.

Needing a response, the Golden Bears would see Rachel Irving come into tend twine to start the second period as WNE would respond with multiple shots on goal and chances around the net, though Thursday night's star Kaleigh Laurendeau would continue to make it tough on the Golden Bears. WNE would draw a powerplay with 12 minutes to play in the second period and would score their second goal of the game when Ziya Damas ripped her fourth goal of the season past the UNE keeper to get Western New England back within a goal. Maddie Pope and Alyssa Murphy earned assists for the Golden Bears on the power play tally. WNE would continue to fight for an equalizer, getting another powerplay with just under six minutes to play in the second period, but could not come up with a goal. Despite dominating the second period, outshooting UNE 12-6 overall, the Golden Bears would still be behind 3-2 after 40 minutes of play.

The Nor'easters had the better of the play to open the first eight minutes of the third period, as WNE would need Rachel Irving to come away with four saves in a span of a minute to keep UNE off the scoreboard. WNE would get another powerplay, putting eight shots together on the chance though would not be able to find the back of the net. Western New England amassed 25 shots in total in the third period, desperately trying to find the tying goal as Jenna Lynch, Alyssa Murphy, and Michela Birmingham would come away with multiple shots for WNE, though none would get past UNE's Laurendeau, who made all 16 saves in the third period as the Golden Bears would fall to UNE by a final score of 3-2.

Inside the Lines:

• Western New England would fall in two straight for the first time all season after starting off the year 4-0 and 5-1.
• Mabel Gerard and Ziya Damas were the lone goal scorers on the evening for WNE.
• WNE took 62 shots in total in the game, putting 34 shots on goal. UNE blocked 18 more shots on the evening.
• Rachel Irving played the final 40 minutes of the game for WNE, coming up with all 16 saves.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE returns home for a non-conference game on Tuesday, November 26 at 3:00 PM to take on Amherst College.