PAWTUCKET, R.I. (January 25, 2025) – The Golden Bears traveled to Rhode Island a day after taking down the Wildcats 1-0 in a shootout. The Golden Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period of play. However, the Wildcats would score two goals in forty-two seconds in the middle period of play and get the game-winning goal with 1:20 left in the contest to win 3-2.

Records:

Western New England: 10-7-1 (5-5-1)

Johnson & Wales University: 8-8-2 (5-5-1)

How it Happened:

Johnson and Wales would snag the opening faceoff, and the game began. WNE would take two shots after a JWU shot. Then, WNE was called for an early penalty. WNE held JWU to only one power play shot during their power play. The teams traded shots for a little while before WNE was called for another penalty. The Wildcats had five shots before being called for a penalty of their own. JWU had a shot during the 4-on-4. Then, JWU had a shot on WNE's powerplay before WNE had two of their own. JWU had two shots before being called for a penalty. WNE had three shots blocked before JWU was called for another penalty, and WNE had a 5-3 powerplay. The first shot of the 5-3 powerplay saw WNE grab the lead. Alyssa Murphy got the puck to Michaela Birmingham, who passed the puck back and forth with Paoli before Paoli sent a shot past the JWU goalie to give WNE the 1-0 lead on the powerplay. Nineteen seconds later, WNE struck again. Michaela Birmingham would send the puck over to Alexa Paoli, who fed a pass to Allison Walker. Walker would get the puck past the JWU goalie and put WNE up 2-0. JWU would go on the powerplay with twenty-four seconds left in the first. They had a shot go wide, and the first period of play would end. JWU led 7-6 in shots on goal and 14-13 on shots. WNE had the 11-7 lead in faceoff wins and the 7-4 lead in saves.

The second started with JWU having the first four shots on their powerplay, but WNE goalie Kayla Ireland would not give up the two-goal WNE lead. WNE had a shot, but it was immediately followed by four JWU shots before a JWU penalty. WNE had three shots during their powerplay chance. JWU goalie Katelyn Cardoso had to make one save and did. WNE took three shots in a row after the powerplay. However, eight JWU shots followed, with the third shot being a goal. Sadie Davignon skated the puck down the ice from one zone to the other and would send two shots in the direction of the net, with the second hitting the back of the goal. WNE's lead was cut to 2-1 with 9:12 remaining in the second period of play. Forty-two seconds later, JWU evened the game at two. Cassidy Rockwood sent the puck across the ice to Grace Adams, who skated the puck into the WNE defensive zone and took a shot that was blocked. The puck found Marissa Lafferty, who scored. The game was tied 2-2. JWU finished out the rest of the second period of play by having fifteen of the sixteen shots, with thirteen of the shots being in a row. Ireland and the WNE defense were keeping the Golden Bears in the game narrowly. The contest was tied 2-2 after the middle period of play concluded. JWU led in shots 32-8 and shots on goal 17-4 in the second frame. They also had more faceoff wins, 13-6. WNE had more saves, 15-4.

JWU started the third frame the same way the second ended. They had eight shots in a row to push their consecutive shots to 21 before WNE had a shot go wide of the net. The teams traded shots for a little before JWU had seven more shots in a row. The teams went back and forth, but JWU started to threaten again, and with 1:20 left in the game, they would score the game-winning goal. Madi Fox sent the puck towards the goal. After a scrum in front of the net, Kailin Kane moved the puck out in front of the middle of the goal, and Kylie O'Keefe slapped the puck into the back of the net. JWU had the 3-2 lead. Kayla Ireland was then pulled from the net for the extra skater for WNE. WNE had five consecutive shots after that. However, only one shot was on goal, and it was saved by Cardoso. The Wildcats earned the comeback win 3-2. The final stats saw JWU leading in shots 66-31 and shots on goal 32-13. WNE had more faceoff wins 24-23, more blocked shots 17-13, and more saves 29-11.

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears traveled to Pawtucket, R.I., for the second contest of the conference home-and-home weekend series.
• 1st 18:42 – Alexa Paoli gave the Golden Bears the lead with a power play goal. Michaela Birmingham and Alyssa Murphy assisted the goal. WNE led 1-0.
• 1st 19:01 – Allison Walker doubled the Golden Bears' lead quickly off assists from Alexa Paoli and Michaela Birmingham. WNE led 2-0.
• 2nd 10:49 – Sadie Davignon cut the JWU deficit in half. Zoe Tow and Brynn Leahy were given the assists on the goal. WNE led 2-1.
• 2nd 11:30 – Marissa Lafferty tied the contest with a goal assisted by Grace Adams and Cassidy Rockwood. The game was tied 2-2.
• 3rd 18:40 – Kylie O'Keefe scored the game-winning goal for the Wildcats off assists from Kailin Kane and Madi Fox. JWU led 3-2.
• Kayla Ireland made 29 saves.
• Katelyn Cardoso made 11 saves.
• JWU defeated WNE 3-2.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will host Curry College at 8:00 PM on Friday, January 31, 2025 inside the Olympia Ice Center for their annual "Hockey Fights Cancer Night".
• The Wildcats will travel to Burrilleville, Rhode Island, for a conference clash with the Nichols College Bison on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 5:40 PM.