WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 3, 2024) The Western New England men's ice hockey team tied with the Gulls from Endicott College on Saturday night from the Olympia Ice Center, as the Golden Bears scored two shorthanded goals while Anthony Aureliano came away with 44 saves in the tie. Endicott would win 1-0 in the shootout.

Records:

• Western New England: 4-15-3, 1-11-3 CCC
• Endicott College: 13-4-5, 10-2-3 CCC

How it Happened:

Coming off a six-goal road loss on the road on Friday night, the Western New England men's ice hockey team looked to get back to their winning ways at home against the Gulls of Endicott College. The Golden Bears took five of the first six shots in the opening frame, with Jimmy Mettler, Shane Miller, Matty Zdanowicz, and Matt Dougherty all coming away with early chances. Western New England would be awarded with two power play chances in the early goings, though they could not find their first goal of the game. Endicott began putting the pressure on the WNE defense and goalkeeping, though Anthony Aureliano came away with saves to keep Endicott off the scoreboard. Endicott would grab their first powerplay of the game and see the Golden Bears come away with the opening goal of the game. After the puck was poked off the stick of a Gull defender by Everest Schnider, Jordie Morgan would dash up the right wing and take a snap shot that beat Endicott's Ryan Wilson through the five-hole to give the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. Morgan recorded his second goal of the season for the Golden Bears. Endicott would get right back in the game when Colin Kleiser scored his first career goal with the Gulls, sneaking a shot just under the six-hole of Aureliano to even the score. Western New England outshot Endicott 9-8 in the first period.

The Gulls would waste little time to get on the scoreboard in the second period, as James McIssac would find the back of the net just 3:08 into the frame to give Endicott a 2-1 lead, their first lead of the game. Brad Zona would lend a hand on the assist as the Gulls controlled much of the offensive attack in the second period. Western New England would take another penalty, though they would come around for their second shorthanded goal of the night after Jordie Morgan and Justin Sullivan went in two-on-one in the offensive zone. A tic-tac-toe passing chance would see the end result be the second WNE goal of the night, as Sullivan would pot the chance to even the score at two at the 8:12 mark of the second period. The Gulls would pick up another powerplay chance and would make no mistake with this one as Zach Mazur would drill home his team-leading 11^th goal of the season, ripping a shot up and over the glove of Aureliano to give Endicott their one-goal lead back. Andrew Kurapov and Ryan Willett would grab assists on the Endicott goal. The Gulls came in flying, looking for another chance at a goal, taking five straight shots and eight of ten shots on goal in the game, though WNE's defense and Anthony Aureliano would come up big to hold Endicott to their one goal lead. Western New England would score their first even strength goal of the night to tie the score when Sam Mitchell went in one on three against the Endicott defense, snuck past the Gulls, and fired a shot that beat the Gulls goalkeeper Ryan Wilson and gave WNE their third goal of the night, evening the score at three with 2:05 to play in the period. Western New England would control the final minute of the second period, though they would not be able to come up with the go-ahead goal as the horn sounded. Aureliano made 15 second period saves to help keep Endicott at bay.

Endicott would keep the pressure on the Golden Bears in the third period, taking 20 shots on goal to Western New England's 11. The Gulls came away with the better chances early in the third period, though the senior goalkeeper for the Golden Bears would keep Endicott off the scoreboard. Western New England's best chance of the period would come off the stick of Matty Zdanowicz, who was able to get by the Gulls defense and move in with a chance to win the game, though Endicott's keeper Ryan Wilson kept WNE off the scoreboard. Endicott got one final chance at the buzzer when Cassidy Bowes came away with a shot on goal, though the buzzer would sound, keeping the score at 3-3, needing extra time to decide a winner.

In overtime, neither team would come away with a good chance to score, with both goalkeepers making two saves each in the five-minute overtime session. Endicott would come around to win the game in the shootout, 1-0, after a fourth-round goal by Zach Mazur. WNE would grab a key point in the CCC standings, tying Endicott for the first time in program history and breaking a nine-game losing streak to the Gulls.

Inside the Lines:

• Anthony Aureliano stole the show on Saturday, coming up with 44 saves, including 20 in the third period, to hold off Endicott and secure a huge point for the Golden Bears.
• Jordie Morgan grabbed a goal and two assists for Western New England to lead the way. Morgan was also 5/10 in the faceoff circle.
• Justin Sullivan and Sam Mitchell came away with the other two goals on the night for Western New England.
• Endicott went 1/4 on the powerplay on Saturday night, while WNE did not score on any of their three attempts. The Golden Bears did get two shorthanded goals.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE returns home on Friday, February 9 at 8:00 p.m. to host Nichols College.