MORRISVILLE, N.Y. (January 10, 2025) – The Western New England women's ice hockey team was propelled by two goals from junior Maddie Pope, who grabbed the eventual game-winning goal at the Mustang Cup, dropping the hosting Mustangs of SUNY Morrisville on Friday night to come away with a 5-1 win and advance to the championship game of the tournament.

Records:

• Western New England: 8-4
• SUNY Morrisville: 6-5

How it Happened:

SUNY Morrisville picked up the first shot on goal in the game just 56 seconds into the contest, testing WNE's first-year goalkeeper Rachel Irving, though the Golden Bear would be up to the ask early. Emma Birmingham had the first shot on goal for the Golden Bears, taking a shot just 1:25 into the contest, which would be turned aside by SUNY Morrisville's J'Anne Colbow. Western New England would come up with the first goal of the game and sixth overall of the season when Ziya Damas got the Golden Bears off and running with a goal just 3:16 into the frame to take a 1-0 lead. Emma Birmingham and Alexa Paoli would have assists on the play for the Golden Bears. SUNY Morrisville would have the better of the chances following the goal from WNE, as the Mustangs looked to get back into the game quickly on their home ice. Irving would continue to be tested in the first period, including on a SUNY Morrisville power play, though they would not be able to score. Late in the first period, with just eight seconds left to play, Western New England would double their lead with a power play goal of their own as Maddie Pope would light the lamp for just the second time this season to put Western New England in front 2-0 after one period of play. Alana Bouthillette and Brie Dube came up with assists for the blue and gold on the second goal of the game. SUNY Morrisville out shot Western New England 11-9 in the opening frame, though Irving would collect all saves in the frame, keeping the hosting Mustangs off the scoreboard.

Just 4:06 into the second period, the hosts would have their first goal of the game, winning a faceoff and tallying an even-strength goal to dip Western New England's lead down to just one. Allie Davidson would score her fourth of the season for the Mustangs, giving the home team some life in the contest. SUNY Morrisville would take full control of the second period from an offensive standpoint at the midway point of the frame, taking eight total shots in a span of just a minute and a half, though Irving would come up huge for the Golden Bears to keep SUNY Morrisville off the scoreboard. WNE would reward the stellar play of their goaltender and would pick up their third goal of the game to get their lead back to two with 8:24 remaining in the second period. Mabel Gerard would collect a pass from Jenna Lynch and would tuck home her team-leading sixth goal of the season, giving the Golden Bears a 3-1 lead. The lead for Western New England would hold heading into the final frame of the game. SUNY Morrisville had the better of the shot chances in the second period, out-shooting the Golden Bears 12-9 this time, though Irving would come up with 11 saves to keep the Golden Bears in front.

1:12 into the third period, Western New England would light the lamp again, scoring their fourth goal of the night, a back-breaker for the home team. The even-strength goal would see Alyssa Murphy take a pass from Allison Walker, who recorded an assist on the play, and fire home her fourth of the season to give WNE their first three-goal lead of the night, taking a 4-1 advantage over the Mustangs. With 4:17 gone in the third period, Western New England would draw a penalty as SUNY Morrisville's Ava Waugman would be called for a cross-check, and Western New England would make the Mustangs pay, scoring their fifth and final goal of the frame to take a four-goal lead. Maddie Pope would have her second goal of the night for WNE, their first PPG of the night. Michaela Birmingham and Alexa Paoli would have assists for the blue and gold on the play to give the Golden Bears the 5-1 lead. SUNY Morrisville would push the WNE defense and Rachel Irving for much of the third period as the Golden Bears took just two shots on goal in the final 15 minutes of the third period, though the WNE defense combined with their goaltender would be too much for the Mustangs to overcome as the Golden Bears would pull out a 5-1 victory in the Mustang Cup to advance to Saturday afternoon's championship game.

Inside the Lines:

• Maddie Pope led the blue and gold with two goals on the night to get Western New England into the Mustang Cup championship game. Pope now had eight points on the season.
• Rachel Irving put out another spectacular performance in the net on the night, making 30 total saves on 31 shots on goal, earning her fourth win of the season. the Auburn, New Hampshire, native had allowed one or no goals in four of six starts this season.
• Alexa Paoli recorded two assists for the Golden Bears in the victory.
• The Golden Bears were led in the faceoff circle by Allison Walker, who won 11 of 18 draws overall.
• This was the first all-time meeting between the two teams.
• WNE went 2/4 on the power play on the night.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England advances to the Mustang Cup on Saturday, January 12, at 3:00 PM, taking on the winner of the Mustang Cup's first game, Elmira College.