Canton, Mass. (February 10, 2024) – The Golden Bears traveled to Canton, Massachusetts, after a wild 3-2 win at the end of the game on Friday night against Nichols College. After the Colonels jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the beginning of the second period of play, The Golden Bears would grab two back to finish the second. However, the Colonels would get a third goal early in the third and win the game by a score of 3-2. Kyle Knight and Justin Sullivan had goals for the Golden Bears today. 

Records:

• Western New England: 5-16-3 (2-12-3)
• Curry College: 19-4-1 (14-3-0)

How it Happened:

Anthony Aureliano and Shane Soderwall started the game in net for the Golden Bears and Colonels, respectively. George Vonakis would win the opening faceoff for the Colonels, and the game was underway. The Colonels had a quick shot to start the game, saved by Aureliano. The Golden Bears would counter with the next three shots in a row. The teams would go back and forth before the Colonels had nine shots in a row. Aureliano had to make five saves during that stretch of shots. The Golden Bears would answer the Colonels' pressure with six shots in a row of their own. All six shots made it to the net, and Soderwall saved all six shots. The Colonels answered with five shots and drew a power play when the Golden Bears were called for a penalty. The Colonels had four shots during the power play, with Aureliano making two saves and one shot hitting the pipe. The Golden Bears exited the penalty kill and had three of the next four shots. The game was moving back and forth, with both teams testing the opposing goalie early. With 3:53 left in the opening period play, the Colonels were called for a penalty, and the Golden Bears had a power play opportunity. After Curry College started the penalty kill with a shot blocked by Shane Miller, the Golden Bears had four power play shots and tested Soderwall all four times. However, they were not able to score on the power play. The Colonels finished the opening period of play with the final five shots in a row. After the first, the stat line showed the Colonels leading in shots on goal, 18-14. The Colonels also led in faceoffs won, 13-10. Both teams had a power play, and the Golden Bears led in blocked shots 9-3. The score was tied 0-0 after the first.

The second started with George Vonakis winning the opening faceoff again. After three shots from the Colonels, the fourth found the back of the net. George Vonakis was credited with the goal after a scrum in front of the net. Austan Bellefeuille was given the assist on the play. The Colonels led 1-0 1:01 into the second period of play. The next shot came from the Colonels, and it was a Matt Connor goal 1:37 into the second. Tao Ishizuka was able to send a pass over to Gage Dill in the WNE defensive zone, who got it to Matt Connor at the point. Connor sent a wrist shot past the goalie for the goal. The Colonels had a quick 2-0 lead.

The Colonels kept the pressure on with six of the next seven shots. The Golden Bears responded with four shots. Then, the Colonels had four of the next five shots before the Golden Bears were called for a penalty. Twelve seconds into the penalty kill, Justin Sullivan got a pass from Shane Miller, broke through as the goalie dove for the puck, and put the puck into the back of the net for a short-handed goal to pull the Golden Bears back into the game. The Golden Bears now trailed 2-1, 8:11 into the second. The Colonels had three shots during the rest of their power play. Then, the Colonels had three more shots in a row before a Golden Bear power play. The Golden Bears had one shot before the Colonels were called for a second penalty. On the 5-on-3 power play, Jake Mendeszoon would send the puck to Jimmy Mettler skating in the WNE attacking zone. Mettler passed the puck down to Kyle Knight by the left corner of the goal. Knight slotted it into the back of the net, and the Golden Bears had tied the game back up at 2-2 with 7:09 left in the second.

The Golden Bears had two more shots on the power play. Curry answered with two shots after the penalty kill. Then, another Golden Bear power play. Three shots from the Golden Bears on the power play, with one short-handed Curry College shot. The Golden Bears had a couple of shots before Curry College had a power play. The Colonels had ten shots to end the second during their power play. After the second, the stat line for that period of play had the Colonels leading in shots on goal 20-12, and faceoffs won 14-7. The Golden Bears led 7-0 in blocked shots. The Golden Bears were 1-3 on the power play, and the Colonels were 0-1. The score was tied 2-2 after two.

Billy Hefferle won the opening faceoff for the Golden Bears to start the third period of play. The third started with back-and-forth action. Both teams looking for the go-ahead goal. The Colonels started to take control with nine shots in a row. The final shot of that stretch was a goal from Gage Dill. Eelis Laaksonen directed a pass to Tao Ishizuka, who sent the puck to Dill. Dill would send the puck crashing into the back of the Golden Bear net to give the Colonels the 3-2 lead. There were a few shots before the Colonels were called for a penalty. The Golden Bears would not produce a shot during the power play.

The Colonels put together five shots in a row before drawing a penalty against the Golden Bears. Shortly into the Colonel power play, they were called for a penalty, and the teams skated 4-on-4. Shots were 4-1 in favor of the Golden Bears during the 4-on-4 action. The Golden Bears also had a shot during their short power play. The Colonels had nine shots in a row to answer the WNE momentum. The Golden Bears had a couple of shots before they pulled their goalie, hoping to tie the game at three. They would get one more shot on goal, but Soderwall made the save and gave the Colonels the win. The Colonels outshot the Golden Bears 57-32 in shots on goal during the game. The Colonels also had more faceoffs won, 43-27. The Golden Bears had more blocked shots, 21-6, and more saves, 54-30. The Golden Bears were 1-6 on the power play, and the Colonels were 0-4. The Golden Bears fell to the Colonels 3-2.

Inside the Crease:

• WNE traveled to the Canton Ice House for a matchup with the Colonels of Curry College.
• George Vonakis netted the game's opening goal. Austan Bellefeuille had the assist. The Colonels led 1-0 after 1:01 into the second period of play.
• Matt Connor scored the second Colonel goal 1:37 into the second period of play. Gage Dill and Tao Ishizuka had the assists. The Colonels led 2-0.
• Justin Sullivan scored the Golden Bears' first goal of the game short-handed 8:11 into the second. Shane Miller was credited with the assist. The Golden Bears trailed 2-1.
• Kyle Knight evened the game at two with a power play goal 12:51 into the second. Jimmy Mettler and Jake Mendeszoon had the assists. The score was tied 2-2.
• Gage Dill netted the game-winning goal for the Colonels. Tao Ishizuka and Eelis Laaksonen were credited with the assists. The Colonels led 3-2.
• Anthony Aureliano made 54 saves.
• Shane Soderwall made 30 saves and earned the win.
• The Colonels won 3-2.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will finish their regular season with their next game against the Wentworth Institute of Technology. That game will be at home in the Olympia Ice Center on Friday, February 16, at 8:00 PM for Senior Night.
• The Colonels will play next against Suffolk University on Friday, October 16, at 7:00 PM at the Canton Ice House. This game will also be their final one of the regular season. It is Senior Night for the Colonels.