Dudley, Mass. (April 24, 2024) – The Golden Bears finished their 2024 regular season campaign with a 10-1 win over the Bison of Nichols College on Wednesday night. The game was tied at one after one. However, the Golden Bears went on a 5-0 second-quarter run and finished the game with four more goals to win the game by six goals. Jacob Roy led the team in points and goals with three. Dylan Hanley notched two points, to become the all-time leader in points for WNE. Carter Randall made 14 saves, earning a .778 save percentage and the win.

Records:

Western New England: 10-6 (6-1)

Nichols College: 8-9 (3-4)

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears started the scoring quickly, with a goal thirty-two seconds into the game from Jack Houlden, off an assist from Brian Madden. Dylan Hanley then hit the post on a shot 1:16 later. The goalies would make saves early, as well. Carter Randall and Brady Morgan made a few saves combined during the opening five minutes. The Bison were called for a penalty 4:20 into the game. However, the Golden Bears could not convert on the man-up opportunity. WNE was called for a penalty a few minutes later. However, the Bison could not capitalize either. The game entered back-and-forth action, with both goalies and defenses standing their ground up until the three-minute mark. Cooper Melvin scored with three minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Colby Gillis had the assist. The Bison were called for a penalty with 1:22 left in the first. However, the Golden Bears would not score during the opportunity. Just as the quarter was ending, the Golden Bears were called for a penalty, and the Bison would get the ball to start quarter two. After one, the Golden Bears led in shots 10-6, and faceoffs won 2-1. The Bison had more saves, 4-3, and more ground balls, 9-8. The score was tied at one after one.

The second saw the Bison fail to capitalize on the man-up opportunity. Randall made two saves early in the quarter to keep the score tied. 3:48 into the quarter, Jacob Roy gave the Golden Bears the lead once again. Dylan Hanley would hit the crossbar less than a minute later. WNE was gaining momentum. The Bison were called for a penalty with 8:31 left in the half. However, another man-up opportunity was pushed aside by the Bison. Jacob Roy would wake the Golden Bears' offense back up with a goal with 4:24 left in the half. Thirty-five seconds later, Thomas Labbe scored to make the score 4-1. Twelve seconds after that, Jack Houlden received a pass from TJ Dalicandro and scored. Finally, after a couple of Brady Morgan saves and a Carter Randall save, Brian Madden netted the fifth goal of the quarter to give the Golden Bears a 6-1 lead at the half. The second quarter saw WNE lead in shots 17-5, faceoffs won 5-0, and ground balls 12-4. The Bison had more saves, 8-4.

The third started with both goalies getting a save before Joey Lachance got the second Bison goal of the night. 1:25 later, a record was broken. Dylan Hanley found James Wrynn, who netted the seventh Golden Bear goal of the night, and with that assist, Dylan Hanley became the all-time leader in points for the WNE Men's Lacrosse team. Just under two minutes later, WNE was called for a penalty. Nothing would come of the Bison man-up opportunity. With 5:51 remaining in the third, Dylan Hanley scored to make the WNE lead 8-2. That was followed by a Bison goal 1:26 later by Jack Ellis. Brady Morgan and Carter Randall would each make saves to conclude the third period, and it finished with the Golden Bears leading 8-3. Stats for the third quarter showed the Bison leading in saves 4-2 and ground balls 7-6. Both teams had ten shots during the quarter, and the Golden Bears won the faceoff battle 3-2. 

The fourth opened with a Carter Randall save thirteen seconds into the quarter. With 11:55 remaining in the game, Jacob Roy completed the hat trick. Carter Renaud entered the game as the goalie for the Bison after the WNE goal. 1:24 later, Jack Ellis scored to make the score 9-4. Then, after Dylan Hanley hit the post, Thomas Labbe would end up with the ball and a goal. The Golden Bears had a 10-4 lead. The teams went back and forth, with both defenses standing strong and the goalies making saves. The Golden Bears were called for a penalty with 2:02 remaining in the game. The Bison were not able to capitalize, and the Golden Bears finished the game out to win 10-4. The final stat line saw the Golden Bears lead in shots 44-28, ground balls 39-26, and faceoffs won 13-4. The Bison had more saves, 18-14.

Inside The Crease:

• The Golden Bears traveled to Dudley, Massachusetts, for a matchup with the Bison of Nichols College.
• Jacob Roy led the Golden Bears by scoring three goals for the team.
• Dylan Hanley would notch career points 281 and 282 to become the all-time leader in points for the Golden Bears.
• Chris Catuosco went 14-17 from the faceoff circle and collected ten ground balls.
• David Noel led the team with three caused turnovers.
• Jack Ellis led the Bison with two goals.
• Carter Renaud made two saves for the Bison. Brady Morgan made sixteen saves for the Bison.
• Carter Randall made fourteen saves for the Golden Bears. Randall earned a save percentage of .778 and earned the win for WNE.
• The Golden Bears won the game 10-4.

Up Next:

• The Golden Bears will play next in the CCC tournament. The Golden Bears will host a semi-final matchup on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 7:00 PM inside Golden Bear Stadium.
• The Bison will play on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at the Wentworth Institute of Technology. The time is still to be determined.