Box Score MILTON, Mass. (January 14, 2025) –  The Western New England women's ice hockey team would never have a lead in Tuesday night's Conference of New England road contest at Curry College, falling behind 1-0 in the first period and 2-1 at the end of the second, and would not be able to come away with a game-tying goal in the third period, falling for the first time in program history on the road at Curry, dropping their fourth CNE contest of the season.

Records:

• Western New England: 9-5, 3-4 CNE
• Curry College: 5-7-1, 4-5 CNE

How it Happened:

The first period would open, which would largely favor the home team as Curry would get out to a good start in a rematch of last year's conference championship game. Curry's first shot would come just 17 seconds into the first period as Jannah Berkowitz would move down the ice after a faceoff win, though the shot would be blocked by Alexa Paoli. Kayla Ireland, who made the start for the Golden Bears, faced a shot just 1:16 into the frame that would be pushed away for her first save of the game. WNE would pick up their first shot of the game at the 1:58 mark of the opening frame as Valerie DuVal's shot would go on goal, though turned away from Curry's Sarah Kerr. Western New England would follow up that chance with another shortly after as Emma Birmingham was denied. WNE's final shot of the frame would come just 5:31 into the first period as DuVal would get away another shot that would be saved. Curry would take over from there, peppering the Western New England defense with shots, forcing the Golden Bears to block eight shots overall in the period. Kayla Ireland would make the first nine saves on nine Curry shots on goal before the Colonels would break the ice and come away with their first goal of the game. Curry's Bella Mardesich would sneak behind the WNE defense on a breakout pass from a teammate and would dangle past Ireland and slide the puck into the open goal to give the Colonels a 1-0 lead. Curry would hold their one-goal lead heading into the first period after outshooting the Golden Bears 22-3 overall and 12-3 on goal in the frame.

Curry opened the second period right where they left off in the first, taking the first two shots on goal overall in the frame in the first minute as Curry's leading scorer, Grayson Goolgasian, would get two chances on Ireland, both turned aside. WNE's Erin McGlynn put up the first shot for the Golden Bears in the period, a near 17-minute hiatus of shots for the Golden Bears, as McGlynn's shot would be saved by Curry's Kerr. Western New England would find their skating game and would begin to find their offense as well, getting a handful of chances on the Colonels. Western New England would be rewarded with a goal to tie the game at one with 13:44 remaining in the period when Katie Cronin smashed home her third goal of the season. After Curry would fail to get the puck out of the zone, first-year Michaela Birmingham would send a shot on goal that would be knocked down by the Curry goalkeeper before Cronin would find the loose puck and jam the puck into the back of the net to tie the game at one. Curry would respond with the next four shots on goal in the game, though Western New England's junior goalkeeper would stay strong between the pipes. WNE would earn the first power play of the game, looking to take their first lead of the game at the midway point of the middle frame, though the Golden Bears would generate just three shots, and one on goal that would not result in WNE's second goal of the game. Curry would take full momentum following their penalty kill and would find the back of the net for the second time in the game to take their lead back. After an initial shot from the Curry defense would go wide of the net, Curry's Ali Olorenshaw would find the puck that would bounce to the front of the goal and backhand it just under the crossbar and into the net to give the Colonels a 2-1 lead with 5:52 remaining in the second period. Western New England would get two shots on goal following the Curry chances, though they would not be able to score, as the Colonels took the 2-1 lead heading into the final frame of play. The Golden Bears would put up 11 shots in the second period while Curry picked up 13 shots on goal. Kayla Ireland would make 12 saves in the frame as the Golden Bears would look to even the scoring in the final frame.

Western New England would come away with two quick shots as Ziya Damas and Michaela Birmingham would come away with chances for the Golden Bears. After neither team scored in the first eight minutes of the period, Curry would take over, firing multiple shots on goal on Kayla Ireland, who kept the Golden Bears in the contest. Alana Bouthillette would break the Curry shooting streak with a shot on goal of her own, though she would be turned aside by Curry's Sarah Kurr. Pressing for the tying goal, Western New England would get their chances but would not be able to find the back of the net. Western New England would pull their goalkeeper with 1:27 left to play, though they would muster just one shot on goal following an Alyssa Murphy's bid, which would be denied as the Golden Bears would fall 2-1 to Curry, dropping their fourth conference game of the season.

Inside the Lines:

• Katie Cronin had the lone tally on the night for Western New England, her third goal of the season. Michaela Birmingham would have the only assist.
• Kayla Ireland made 26 saves in the game while allowing just two goals.
• WNE outshot Curry 11-3 in the third period, though Curry's Sarah Kerr made 24 saves on 25 shots on goal in the game to give the Colonels the victory.
• Ali Olorenshaw's second-period goal proved to be the game-winning goal on the night for the Colonels, who defeat Western New England for the first time on their home ice in program history.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears look to bounce back in CNE play on Friday, January 17, at 6:00 PM, meeting Suffolk University for the first time this season.