BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (December 7, 2024) – The Western New England women's ice hockey team scored in the first 20 seconds of their Conference of New England road game against the Bison of Nichols College and would never look back from there, coming away with another 5-0 shutout victory to sweep the home-and-home series.

Records:

• Western New England: 7-4, 3-3 CNE
• Nichols College: 5-6, 2-5 CNE

How it Happened:

It would not take long for Western New England to get on the scoreboard, as Allison Walker would score her third goal in two nights to come away with the early lead for the Golden Bears, a game in which Western New England would never trail and would never give up a goal. Maddie Pope had the opening assist for WNE on the first goal of the game. Nichols would come around following the goal from the Golden Bears and would test Kayla Ireland, who would make the start in between the pipes on Saturday and would pick up a flurry of saves. The Golden Bears were back on the scoreboard again just seven minutes into the game as Valarie DuVal, who would continue to be a Bison killer after having a goal last night, would repeat with another tally for Western New England, this time on an assist from Ziya Damas and Hannah Baxter giving the Golden Bears a 2-0 lead. The two-goal lead would carry over into the second period for Western New England women's ice hockey, who out shot Nichols 22-18 in the period, including 13-11 on goal. WNE won nine of 17 faceoffs in the frame while neither took a penalty. WNE's Kayla Ireland put up all 11 saves in the frame.

The Golden Bears started off the second period with much of the possession in the opening five minutes and would be able to convert their third goal of the night as Jenna Lynch would fly in for her second goal in back-to-back nights to give the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead. Mabel Gerard and Zoe Galanoudis would pick up assists on the goal from Lynch, which would continue Western New England's offense in the period. The Bison would surrender a fourth goal to the Golden Bears at the 6:29 mark of the frame as Katie Cronin would find a loose puck after a shot from Emma Birmingham that would find the back of the net, sending the Golden Bears to a commanding 4-0 lead. DuVal would add a secondary assist on the goal, her second point of the night, as Western New England would outscore Nichols heavily in the weekend series. Following the goal from Cronin the Bison, they would find their offensive game again, testing Kayla Ireland multiple times while the WNE defense would pick up seven blocks overall in the period. The Golden Bears would convert on their only power play opportunity in the frame, which gave the team a 5-0 lead as Mabel Gerard would come away with a blistering wrist shot that would get past McKenzie Muir at the 13:43 mark of the second period. Jenna Lynch would pick up another point in the game while Alana Bouthillette would notch an assist on the play that gave the Golden Bears a 5-0 lead, a lead in which the Golden Bears held heading into the final 20 minutes of play. Alanna Bouthillette would have the secondary assist on the fifth goal for the Golden Bears. Western New England out shot the Bison 14-8 overall while winning 16 of 21 faceoffs.

Nichols would come out with the first three shots in the third period, one shot that would be blocked while two would be on target, though Ireland would be up to the task to keep the Bison off the scoreboard. Play would favor the Bison as the game moved towards the midway point of the period, as Nichols would take seven shots on goal through the first ten minutes of the frame. Following the midway point of the period, Western New England would take over the offense, allowing the Bison just two shots on goal in the final ten minutes of the game. Western New England would eventually out shoot the Bison 13-9 in the third period while Kayla Ireland would make 28 saves in the game to come away with a 5-0 victory, their second straight 5-0 win over Nichols.

Inside the Lines:

• Five different goal scorers led the way for the Golden Bears, as Allison Walker, Valerie DuVal, Jenna Lynch, Katie Cronin, and Mabel Gerard were all on the board for WNE.
• Of the five goal scorers, three would add an assist on the night, seeing Lynch, DuVal, and Gerard pick up helpers.
• The Golden Bears out shot Nichols 65-53 in total in the game and 40-28 in shots on goal.
• Kayla Ireland shined for the Golden Bears with 28 total saves, her second shutout of the season.
• WNE sweeps the weekend series from Nichols, defeating the Bison by a final score of 5-0 on both nights.
• WNE has picked up eight straight wins over Nichols, four straight shutouts.

Up Next On The Schedule:

• WNE will hit the road for the SUNY Morrisville Tournament after the holiday break. The tournament will take place on Friday, January 10, at 6:00 PM, with WNE taking on the Mustangs of SUNY Morrisville. WNE will then compete in the consolation or championship game the next day.