WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 20, 2025) – The Western New England women's ice hockey team fell behind 2-0 in the opening 22 minutes of the Conference of New England game on Thursday afternoon, seeing the Rams of Suffolk University pick up the early lead, and held on late, defeating the Golden Bears by a final score of 2-1. 

Records:

• Western New England: 5-2-0, 3-2-0 CNE
• Suffolk University: 3-1-1, 3-1-1 CNE

How it Happened:

First Period:

• An action-packed first period saw Suffolk open with the first three shots of the frame, with Jenna Lynch blocking a shot and Rachael Irving coming away with an early save. WNE had the next four shots, putting one on goal when Kaylin O'Connor's chance was denied by Suffolk's Katelyn Michals. The Rams were awarded their first power play of the game just 2:42 into the first period, forcing Irving to make a pair of saves, but the WNE defense kept Suffolk off the scoreboard, as the game was tied at zero through the first five minutes of play. 
• Suffolk had the better of the offense at the midway point of the first period, testing Irving and the WNE defense. Irving was up to the task early on in the game. 
• With 6:34 remaining in the period, the Rams got on the board for the first goal of the game when Jenna Caballero found Anya Nichipor, who took a wrist shot from the top of the circles and beat Irving over the shoulder, giving the Rams a 1-0 lead. Western New England had a pair of power play chances in the final 2:30 of the opening period, getting plenty of chances on goal, but could not beat Michals and the Suffolk defense, seeing the Rams come away with a 1-0 first period lead. 
• Suffolk owned the shots advantage, 16-12 in the period. Michaela Birmingham and Maddie Pope led WNE with four shots each. Liliana Moose led Suffolk with six shots, putting three on frame.

Second Period:

• Suffolk scored again just 1:13 into the second period when Liliana Moose recorded her second goal of the season, picking up assists from Alexia Hill and Bella Schmidt, giving the Rams a 2-0 lead, coming away with a power play goal. The Golden Bears began to find offense shortly after, seeing Valerie DuVal and Ziya Damas get scoring chances, both saved by Michals. 
• The Rams had a power play four minutes into the frame, a power play that produced seven total shots, four on goal, all saved by Irving. Suffolk continued to carry much of the offensive attack, with Irving standing tall, seeing Suffolk continue its 2-0 lead past the midway point of the frame.
• Western New England got on the scoreboard with 6:47 left in the period when Leah Dube took a wrist shot that deflected off a Ram in front of the net, cutting Suffolk's lead to one, putting the Golden Bears in the scoring column, trailing 2-1. Maddie Pope and Michaela Birmingham earned the assists on the play. The Golden Bears then had a pair of power play chances to get the game-tying goal, coming up with five shots on their first opportunity and seven on their second chance, but were denied by the Suffolk goalkeeper, who made nine saves, keeping the Rams in front, 2-1 after two periods. 
• The Golden Bears collected 16 shots on goal in the second period to Suffolk's ten, coming up with late chances to tie the game in the period, but were unsuccessful.

Third Period:

• In search of a game-tying goal to begin the third period, the Golden Bears picked up a power play to begin the period, getting three shots on goal, but could not find the tying goal, as the Rams killed off the penalty. Western New England then took a penalty six minutes into the period as Suffolk took six shots on the chance, but only one shot on goal as Rachael Irving made the save. 
• The midway point of the period saw the two teams exchange chances. The Golden Bears then took a penalty with just over seven minutes remaining in the game, but the Rams did not come up with any chances as the Golden Bears picked up a big kill. 
• The Golden Bears pulled their goalie in the final two minutes of the game but did not come away with any shots on goal, falling 2-1 to the Rams. WNE had nine shots on goal in the third period while Suffolk had just four. WNE committed three penalties in the final frame to doom their chances at a comeback. 

Inside the Lines:

• Leah Dube found the back of the net for the first time this season, her third career collegiate goal. Michaela Birmingham and Maddie Pope picked up assists for the Golden Bears on their lone goal of the game. 
• Rachael Irving made 28 saves in the losing effort. 
• Valerie DuVal won 14 of 17 faceoffs in the game. 
• Liliana Moose had Suffolk's eventual game-winning goal in the second period, lifting Suffolk to their second straight win over the Golden Bears. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears and Rams will tangle again this Saturday, November 22, at Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink at 4:50 PM.