BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (December 5, 2025) – The Western New England women's ice hockey team ended its mini four-game losing streak on Friday night, defeating the Bison of Nichols College in Conference of New England action behind a pair of goals from Mikayla Mrzywka and a 29-save shutout from Rachael Irving, grabbing its fourth CNE win of the season.

Records:

• Western New England: 6-4, 4-3 CNE
• Nichols College: 2-7, 0-7 CNE

How it Happened:

First Period:

• The Bison opened the first period with the first four shots, a pair that ended up on goal, being saved by Rachael Irving, who made her tenth straight start of the season for the Golden Bears. Western New England's first shot didn't come until nearly three minutes into the first period when Gabbi Oakes had a chance denied by the Nichols starting keeper, Ivy Grant. The first period went back and forth with both teams getting chances on goal. 
• The first power play of the game was awarded to the Golden Bears, who picked up the first goal of the game when Mabel Gerard scored her fourth goal of the season to tie a team lead, giving WNE a 1-0 lead. Michaela Birmingham and Jenna Lynch both recorded assists on the goal for Gerard.  Western New England continued its pressure on Nichols following the goal, putting three straight chances on net with Gerard, Caroline Bliss, and Katie Collins all picking up chances.
• Western New England attempted 26 first-period shots, with Nichols coming up with 18 total. Irving stopped all 12 shots faced. Grant picked up 13 saves on 14 shots on goal for the Bison. 

Second Period:

• A dominant start to the second period for Western New England resulted in their second goal of the night when Mikayla Mrzywka got on the scoreboard for the second time this season to double WNE's lead, 2-0. Mabel Gerard and Jenna Lynch picked up their second points each at the 3:19 mark of the second period.  WNE maintained the offensive possession following their goal,  as Nichols had just a pair of shots on goal through the first seven minutes of the period. 
• The Bison found their offensive game at the midway point of the period, ripping off 11 shots in a row, including six on a power play, but WNE's defense blocked five of the six attempts while Irving came up with the lone save on the shot on goal, keeping the Blue and Gold ahead 2-0. 
• Western New England picked up a flurry of chances in the final minute of the period, but didn't come up with a third goal, keeping its two-goal lead after two periods of play. The Golden Bears collected 23 shots in the period, putting eight on goal. Nichols had 19 total shots, shooting eight on goal, as well.

Third Period: 

• Western New England started the period on a power play just three minutes into the final frame as Nichols was called for a trip. The Golden Bears came up with four shots on goal on the chance but did not score. WNE controlled the offense for the first eight and a half minutes of the third period, putting the pressure on the Bison, but was held at bay by Ivy Grant.
• Nichols found their offensive footing again at the midway mark of the frame, but Irving came up big on a pair of shots on goal back-to-back from Nichols to keep the Bison without a goal in the game. The Bison got desperate late in the game, pulling their goalkeeper with 2:55 to play in the game and picked up three shots before the Golden Bears had a shot on goal that found the back of the net from nearly 200 feet away from their offensive goal when Mikayla Mrzywka tossed the puck from her own blue line into the empty net, giving WNE a 3-0 lead. 
• The Golden Bears sealed the deal with one final empty net goal in the game when Michaela Birmingham found the back of the net on assists from Jenna Lynch and Maddie Pope, giving the Golden Bears a 4-0 win over the Bison, snapping its four-game losing streak. 

Inside the Lines:

• Mikayla Mrzywka led the way with a pair of goals for Western New England in the game. Mrzywka took six total shots in the game.
• Jenna Lynch recorded three assists for WNE in the game, leading the Golden Bears in points. 
• The game featured 45 total blocked shots, including 28 from the Nichols defense.
• Rachael Irving made all 29 saves in the win for the Golden Bears, her first shutout of the season and fifth of her career.
• Ivy Grant made 31 saves for Nichols. 
• Western New England continues its winning ways against the Bison, having gone 9-0-1 over the last ten games against Nichols. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears close out the first half of their schedule on Saturday, December 6 at 5:30 PM, hosting the Bison in the second half of a home-and-home.