WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (December 7, 2024) – The Golden Bears hosted the Endicott College Gulls at the Olympia Ice Center for Pride Night and their second game of the conference home-and-home weekend series. Nolan Dawson helped the Golden Bears get out to a quick start. However, Primo Self notched two goals for the Gulls as they tallied six goals in a row to defeat the Golden Bears 6-1.

Records:

Western New England: 3-7-1 (1-6-1)

Endicott College: 8-3-0 (7-1-0)

How it Happened:

With Luca Scaglione getting a first career start in net for the Golden Bears and Kelly Atticus in net across from Scaglione, the game began. It started similarly to the day before. The Gulls had four of the first six shots and tried to test the young WNE goalie early. They then had the next five shots before WNE turned the tables on Endicott with a shot from Chris Hibson, which Atticus had to save. Phillipe Longchamps would corral the puck and send it to Brayden Patricia, who would find Nolan Dawson for the goal. The Golden Bears had flipped the script on Endicott and were leading 1-0 with 9:30 left in the opening period of play. Endicott did not hesitate. They had five of the next six shots and drew a penalty against WNE. They had a shot before another penalty was called, and the Gulls were on a 5-on-3 power play. During the 5-on-3 power play, Domenic Garozzo found Jackson Sterrett, who would send the puck to Primo Self. Self would find the back of the WNE net with 6:03 left in the first for a power-play goal, and the game was tied 1-1. Endicott had three more shots in a row before Primo Self found Ryan Willett, who forwarded the pass to Domenic Garozzo. Garozzo would send a shot past the WNE goalie and give Endicott a 2-1 lead on another power-play goal with 4:45 left in the first. The teams traded shots for the final minutes, but the 2-1 scoreline would last until the first intermission. The Gulls led in shots 24-8, shots on goal 17-7, and faceoffs won 16-9. WNE had more saves, 15-6, and blocked shots, 5-2.

Both teams had a shot in the second period of play before Endicott was called for a penalty. WNE had no shots on their power play chance, but Endicott had a short-handed chance saved by Scaglione. After the Endicott power play, both teams had three shots in a row, starting with WNE. However, Endicott's third shot was a goal. Primo Self scored Self's second goal of the game. Self's goal was assisted by Therien Thiesing and Michael Casey. The Endicott lead was doubled to 3-1 3:40 into the second period of play. Endicott was called for a penalty a couple of minutes later. Then, just under a minute after that, WNE and Endicott were both called for penalties, and the teams skated 4-on-3. Endicott had a shot, and that was it. However, just after the 4-on-4 ended, Cade Baker found the back of the WNE net to make the score 4-1 Endicott after assists from Jackson Sterrett and Ryan Willett with 10:53 left in the second period. Endicott was called for another penalty soon after. The Golden Bears could only pick up one shot, and Endicott matched it during the WNE power play. The teams traded shots until WNE was called for a penalty. Four Endicott shots were directed away from the back of the WNE goal by Scaglione and the WNE defense. That was before the game went to 4-on-4. After a few Endicott shots and another WNE penalty, Endicott's John Goldowski got an assist from Therien Thiesing, and Goldowski scored the power play goal with 3:28 left in the second. Endicott led 5-1. Endicott had the final seven shots of the second period of play, and WNE trailed 5-1 after two periods of play. The second period of play saw Endicott lead in shots 23-8, shots on goal 19-4, and faceoffs won 13-7. WNE led in saves 16-4 and blocked shots 5-2.

The third and final period of play saw Endicott get one more goal. They started with a few shots that Scaglione was able to save. Then, the teams traded a few shots before Andrew Kurapov continued Kurapov's great weekend of hockey. Kurapov received a pass from Mark D'Agostino, who got the puck from Cody Hoban. Kurapov found the back of the net, and Endicott led 6-1 with 16:03 left in the game. The teams traded shots before Endicott had five shots in a row. WNE countered, looking to gain a second goal. They earned a power play chance and after a goalie change for Endicott, which saw Krystian Jaks enter at goalie. WNE had a shot on the power play before multiple high-minute penalties were handed out. The teams played the puck back and forth after that, with both teams having shots. Then, Endicott would go on the power play with just over five minutes remaining in the game. However, they would not produce a shot during it. The Golden Bears would produce multiple shots and then were awarded a power play, which saw them have one shot saved by Jaks. The game would conclude with WNE earning another power play. They would not have a shot on the power play, but Endicott would, and it was the last shot of the game. The game concluded with WNE falling to Endicott 6-1. The final stats saw Endicott leading in shots 65-29, shots on goal 46-17, and faceoffs won 40-25. WNE had more saves, 40-16, and blocked shots, 10-8.

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears hosted the Gulls at the Olympia Ice Center on Saturday.
• 1st 10:30 - Nolan Dawson scored the game's opening goal off assists from Brayden Patricia and Philippe Longchamps. WNE led 1-0.
• 1st 13:57 – Primo Self tied the game with a power-play goal assisted by Jackson Sterrett and Dominic Garozzo. The game was tied 1-1.
• 1st 15:15 – Domenic Garozzo gave Endicott the lead with a power-play goal assisted by Ryan Willett and Primo Self. Endicott led 2-1.
• 2nd 3:40 – Primo Self doubled the Endicott lead with a goal assisted by Therien Thiesing and Michael Casey. Endicott led 3-1.
• 2nd 9:07 – Cade Baker tripled the Endicott lead with a goal assisted by Jackson Sterrett and Ryan Willett. Endicott led 4-1.
• 2nd 16:32 – John Goldowski scored a power-play goal off an assist from Therien Thiesing to give the Gulls the 5-1 lead.
• 3rd 3:57 – Andrew Kurapov scored the Gulls' sixth goal of the game off assists from Mark D'Agostino and Cody Hoban. Endicott led 6-1.
• Luca Scaglione made 40 saves for WNE.
• Kelly Atticus made 14 saves, and Krystian Jaks made two saves to earn Endicott the win.
• The Gulls defeated the Golden Bears 6-1.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will return from winter break on Wednesday, January 8, 2024, at 1:30 PM when they travel to Post University at the Sports Center of Connecticut.
• The Gulls will take on Salem State University on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 7:00 PM at Raymond J. Bourque Arena in Beverly, MA.