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Western New England University

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MIH 1.31.25
4
Western New Eng. WNE 5-13-1, 1-10-1
5
Winner JWU (Providence) JWU 9-9-1, 4-7-1
Western New Eng. WNE
5-13-1, 1-10-1
4
Final
5
JWU (Providence) JWU
9-9-1, 4-7-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 OT 1 F
Western New Eng. WNE 1 2 1 0 4
JWU (Providence) JWU 1 2 1 1 5

Game Recap: Men's Ice Hockey |

Golden Bears Fight Back, but Fall to Wildcats 5-4 in OT Heartbreaker

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (January 31, 2025) – The Golden Bears traveled to Pawtucket, R.I. for a conference clash with the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University. The teams fought back and forth all game, with WNE coming back from one goal down twice and two goals down once. However, JWU would score with forty-three seconds left in overtime to hand WNE a heartbreaking loss.

Records:

Western New England: 5-13-1 (1-10-1)

Johnson & Wales University: 9-9-1 (4-7-1)

How it Happened:

The contest in Rhode Island started with JWU firing three shots in the direction of the net. The Golden Bears blocked the first two shots, but the third would move from Evan Gravel to Connor Nelson and settle with Joe Freeman, who pocketed the contest's first goal. JWU had the early 1-0 lead 1:44 into the game. WNE would try to stifle the JWU momentum with multiple shots after the goal. They had nine of the next thirteen shots. Jake Inzirillo and Anthony Aureliano, the goalies for the Wildcats and Golden Bears, respectively, kept the score what it was with a few saves from each of them. JWU flipped the script by having eight of the next eleven shots. They kept sending the puck at the WNE defense and Aureliano, but the puck would not hit the netting. The teams traded shots until WNE was called for a cross-check, and JWU went on the power play. JWU had two shots on the power play, but WNE got the goal. Jimmy Mettler poked the puck to Everest Schneider, who skated down the ice and sent the puck past the JWU goalie to tie the game just before the first intermission. The contest saw one shot from JWU before the end of the first. The score was 1-1 after one period of play. WNE had more shots on goal during the first 9-7, but JWU had more total shots, 20-15. JWU also had more saves, 8-6, and faceoff wins 10-2.

The second period of play saw four total goals scored. JWU had the opening shot, and WNE picked up a second penalty. JWU had two shots on the power play, but WNE would grab a shot as well. JWU then had nine of the next ten shots, with eight shots in a row. The eighth shot was from Evan Gravel, who stole the puck in the WNE defensive zone and sent a shot at Aureliano, who saved the puck, but it ricocheted around and into the back of the goal. JWU led 2-1 6:05 into the second. They had five of the next seven shots also. That fifth shot was from Noah LaFleur, giving JWU the 3-1 lead. Harout Torosian found LaFleur, who sent the puck to Noel Parker on the right side of the goal, who fed it back to LaFleur for the tip-in goal. JWU had the two-goal lead with 10:01 remaining in the second. Twenty-four seconds later, though, Matty Zdanowicz made it a one-goal game once again. Brayden Patricia found Matthew Dougherty sliding through mid-ice. Dougherty slid the puck to Zdanowicz, who just got the puck past the JWU goalie, and the Golden Bears only trailed by one, 3-2. JWU and WNE battled for a little while after the two goals. Then, WNE was gifted a powerplay chance. WNE had four shots on the power play but no goals. After a couple more WNE shots, JWU was called for another penalty. This time, WNE would net the power play goal. Jake Mendeszoon would keep the puck in the offensive zone on the left-hand side of the goal. Mendeszoon sent the puck to Everest Schneider, who surveyed the ice and found Matthew Dougherty skating toward the net. Dougherty made a move and scored. The game was tied 3-3 with 2:31 remaining in the second. JWU had one more penalty with almost a minute and a half left in the second. WNE had five shots during the power play to conclude the second. The shot stats still favored JWU, with them having more shots 22-19 and more shots on goal 16-9. WNE did have more faceoff wins, 16-11, and more saves, 14-7.

The third had less goals but just as much action. WNE had five of the first six shots. Then, the shots would be traded back and forth. However, WNE was slowly picking up more and more shots than JWU. The momentum felt like it was truly with WNE. Then, after the Golden Bears started to put together a great third period of play, the Wildcats would have three shots in a row with under ten minutes remaining in the game. The third shot was a goal. Harout Torosian won the faceoff for the Wildcats. The puck found its way to Noah LaFleur, who took a shot wide of the goal. Bret Beale was there to jab at the puck and get it past the WNE goalie for the goal. JWU led 4-3 with 7:36 remaining. WNE did not put their heads down, though. They kept fighting, and JWU would give WNE a power play with 7:07 remaining in the game. WNE had two shots but was gaining momentum. The teams traded shots, and then, with 2:03 left in the contest, head coach Mike Young pulled the WNE goalie for an extra skater before a faceoff. Jordie Morgan would win that faceoff to Everest Schneider. Schneider fed the puck back to Morgan in front of the net. Morgan sent a one-timer into the back of the goal, and WNE tied the game at 4-4 with 1:58 left in the third. JWU concluded the third with the final five shots but could not earn the game-winning goal, and the game went to overtime tied at four. The third saw WNE lead in shots 26-16, shots on goal 15-7, and faceoff wins 16-12. JWU led in saves 14-6.

Overtime saw WNE have four shots in a row to open the extra period of play. WNE had a shot that had a chance at going in, but it was ruled that it went off the pipe, and it kept JWU in the game. The Golden Bears still had two more shot chances before Harout Torosian would possess the puck, skate down the ice, and send a pass to Sam Band. Band took a shot, which was saved. However, Band found the rebound and placed it in the back of the goal. JWU won 5-4 in overtime. The final stats saw WNE leading in overall shots 66-61, shots on goal 36-33, and faceoff wins 37-33. JWU led in blocked shots 17-15 and saves 32-28.

Inside the Crease:

  • The Golden Bears were in Rhode Island for a contest versus Johnson & Wales University.
  • 1st 1:44 – Joe Freeman netted the game's opening goal. It was assisted by Connor Nelson and Evan Gravel. JWU led 1-0.
  • 1st 19:40 – Everest Schneider tied the game at one goal per side with a shorthanded goal. Jimmy Mettler was credited with the assist. The game was tied 1-1.
  • 2nd 6:05 – Evan Gravel gave JWU the one-goal lead back with an unassisted goal. JWU led 2-1.
  • 2nd 9:59 – Noah LeFleur doubled the Wildcat lead with a goal assisted by Noel Parker and Harout Torosian. JWU led 3-1.
  • 2nd 10:23 – Matty Zdanowicz cut the WNE deficit to one with a goal assisted by Matthew Dougherty and Brayden Patricia. JWU led 3-2.
  • 2nd 17:29 – Matthew Dougherty evened the score with a power play goal, assisted by Everest Schneider. The contest was tied 3-3.
  • 3rd 12:24 – Bret Beale gave the Wildcats the lead back with a goal assisted by Noah LaFleur and Harout Torosian. JWU led 4-3.
  • 3rd 18:02 – Jordie Morgan equalized the game once again for the Golden Bears. Everest Schneider was credited with the assist. WNE led 4-4.
  • OT 4:17 – Sam Band won the game for JWU with a goal assisted by Harout Torosian. JWU led 5-4.
  • Anthony Aureliano made 28 saves.
  • Jake Inzirillo made 32 saves.
  • JWU beat WNE 5-4.

Up Next on the Schedule:

  • The two teams will travel to the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday, January 31, 2025, for game two of the weekend series.
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