BURRVILLE, R.I. (January 24, 2025) – After going down 2-0 in the early stages of the second period, the Western New England men's ice hockey team rallied to tie the game in the third period but would succumb to the Nichols College Bison in overtime, as the Bison would pick up the winner in overtime to defeat the Golden Bears by a final score of 3-2.

Records:

·      Western New England: 5-11-1, 1-8-1 CNE

·      Nichols College: 7-8-2, 3-5-2 CNE

How it Happened:

A pair of Golden Bears would get the game started with shots to turn up the early pressure on Nichols, who hosted Friday night's start to the home-and-home set between the Golden Bears and Bison. Both Matthew Dougherty and Josh Bliss would record early shots, with Dougherty's shot coming on goal, turned aside by the Nichols' Nick Anderson. Anthony Aureliano, who made the start for the Golden Bears on Friday night, coming off his 4-0 shutout victory in non-conference action over Assumption, was also tested early by Nichols, fending off a handful of shots to keep the Bison from tallying the early mark. Western New England put four shots on goal in the first six minutes of the game as Everest Schneider would lead the way for WNE with two, both saved by the Bison goalkeeper. Neither team would put up a goal through the midway point of the first period, with Nichols coming away with the offensive edge as the Golden Bears would lean on their goalkeeper to keep the Bison from getting the first tally. The Bison would strike first in the game, taking advantage of a Western New England turnover to pick up the 1-0 lead. CJ Zezima would pick the puck up in the Nichols offensive zone after a failed clearing attempt, walk down the slot, and beat Aureliano over the left shoulder, picking up an unassisted tally to give Nichols the 1-0 lead. Neither team would generate much traction in the final six minutes of the first period, seeing the Bison take the 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Nichols had the 14-4 advantage in shots on goal in the first period, with the Bison doubling up Western New England in total shots in the period, 22-11. WNE was 15/23 in faceoffs overall in the frame.

Looking to even the score to start the second period, Western New England surrendered an early tally to Nichols, which allowed the Bison to double their lead just 45 seconds into the frame, leading 2-0. Rocco Bianculli would take a shot on Aureliano that would be saved, but a rebound chance would be cashed in by Gave Temple, giving the Bison the two-goal lead. Western New England would quickly pick up a power play opportunity and would build momentum off it, generating five shots on the chance, though they would not be able to score. With six seconds remaining on the power play, Nichols would be whistled with a second minor, though Western New England would be silent on their second chance, going 0/2 on the power play. Needing a goal, the Golden Bears would grab their third straight power play of the period and would not mistake this one, as Justin Sullivan would send Matthew Dougherty on a breakaway, and Dougherty would pick the top right corner of the net to get WNE on the board, evening the score at one with 12:05 to play in the second period. The Bison would get their first crack at the power play and would take six shots during it, all taken in by Aureliano to keep Nichols from scoring. Through the final five minutes of the second period, Western New England would outshoot Nichols 3-1 but would trail 2-1 after 40 minutes of action. The second period brought Western New England 12 shots to their total whole Anthony Aureliano made all 14 saves in the period for the Golden Bears.

50 seconds into the third, Western New England would pick up a power play, getting two shots on goal on the chance, though they would not be able to even the score. Just two minutes following the expiration of the man advantage, the Golden Bears would score the game-tying goal. Nolan Dawson would go on the forecheck down low and would pull the puck out from behind the goal to Matty Zdanowicz, who curled and dragged the puck past the defender, who was screening the Nichols goalie, and would shoot a shot short side and into the goal, tying the game for the Golden Bears. Nichols would put together a flurry of chances following the goal for the Golden Bears, though the WNE defense along with their goalkeeper kept the puck out of the net. Both teams would trade goal for goal through the midway point of the third period and into the final five minutes of the third. Both teams came up with 11 shots each in the frame, though Zdanowicz's tally in the frame would be the only goal scored, as the teams would need overtime to settle the decision.

It would take Nichols all of 30 seconds to find the back of the net in the overtime frame as Ryan Austin would pick up a rebound off the back glass after Jack Lee took a shot that would be saved, deflect off the glass, and right to the tape of Austin, who netted the goal to give the Bison the 3-2 victory.

Inside the Lines:

·       The Golden Bears got production from Matthew Dougherty and Matty Zdanowicz on the night, both picking up goals.

·       Nolan Dawson, Matthew Fortin, and Justin Sullivan earned assists for the Golden Bears in the game.

·       Anthony Aureliano made 39 saves for Western New England in the loss.

·       Nichols outshot WNE 42-27 in the game. WNE was 1/4 on the power play on the night.

·       Nichols defeats WNE for the first time in four tries.

Up Next on the Schedule:

·      The two teams match up on Saturday, January 25, at 7:10 PM from the Olympia Ice Center.