SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 21, 2025) – The Golden Bears hosted the Bison in their final regular season home contest. After a scoreless first period of play, Grace Melanson and the Bison would take the lead early in the second. That goal was answered by a Julia Roman goal, which forced overtime. Neither team found a goal in overtime, so a shootout was needed where Alyssa Murphy scored the game-winning shootout goal for the Golden Bears.

Records:

Western New England: 12-9-3 (6-8-3)

Nichols College: 7-14-3 (4-10-3)

How it Happened:

Valerie DuVal got the contest started with a faceoff win for the Golden Bears. That led to Jenna Lynch sending the first shot on net. Mackenzie Muir made the first save of the game for the Bison twenty-six seconds into the contest. The Golden Bears continued the pressure by having seventeen of the first eighteen shots of the game, with the final nine shots of that run being in a row. Muir made save after save to keep the Bison in the game early. The Golden Bears kept putting pressure on the Bison, but they would not budge early. As the first period of play crossed the halfway mark, the Bison were able to get the offense started. They had four shots in a row, with Rachael Irving making a second and third save of the game for the Golden Bears. WNE was not phased by the flurry of shots from the Bison, as they answered with their own flurry of shots. They had five in a row, making Muir save three of the shots. Possession and shots were traded back and forth as Rachael Irving had to make two more saves on three Bison shots in a row. The teams kept trading runs of shots throughout the remaining four minutes of the opening period of play, with the Bison having eight of the final shots of the first. However, after the back-and-forth play and all of the shots, neither team could break the 0-0 tie before the first break. At the break, the Golden Bears had more shots 27-17 and shots on goal 14-7. Both teams had thirteen faceoff wins. The Bison had more blocked shots, 7-2, and saves 14-7.

The Golden Bears entered the second period of play with a similar ferocity as the first. They had the first four shots of the second, making Muir make two more saves before the Bison had four shots in a row of their own. Irving was forced to make three saves. The back-and-forth nature of the first period of play continued into the second. Both teams fought for the first goal, but it was the Bison who got it. Grace Melanson earned the goal for the Bison after deflecting a shot from Alexis Pacheco into the goal. Kerstin Ambruso had an assist on the play as well for the Bison. The Bison led 1-0. The Golden Bears tried to tie the game with a run of three shots in a row after two Bison shots after the goal. However, Muir made both saves, with the third shot going wide. The Bison had a shot before three more shots were taken by WNE. They were determined to get the next goal and tie the game at one. The Bison would make it tough for the Golden Bears as they answered with three shots in a row once again. Mackenzie Muir kept up the stellar goalie performance with three more saves in a row after that. The teams kept the shots flying at the opposing goalies. The Golden Bears just could not get a shot past Muir. The teams concluded the second period of play with a few shots each, but neither team could get a goal at the end, and the Bison took a 1-0 lead into the second intermission. The second period of play saw WNE leading in shots, 24-19, and shots on goal, 15-10. They also led in faceoffs, won 12-5, and blocked shots 5-4. The Bison had more saves, 15-9.

The third started with the teams continuing to trade shots. However, just under four minutes into the third, the Golden Bears started to put together more shots in a row. They had three shots in a row blocked before having a shot go wide and another shot saved by Muir. That run of shots was interrupted by two shots from the Bison. The Golden Bears would keep the pressure on the Bison. They had twelve shots in a row. They just kept sending shots at the net, and eventually, it paid off. With 7:26 remaining in the game, Julia Roman received a pass from Jenna Lynch, who got the puck from Alyssa Murphy. Roman would send the puck at the net and score. The game was tied 1-1. After the goal, the teams continued trading shots, with the Bison pulling their goalie with 2:42 left in the contest. The Bison had three shots in a row before a faceoff. They had three shots after that, as well. WNE would send a shot at goal, but it went wide of the goal. Neither team had a shot after that, and the game went to overtime. The third period of play stats saw WNE leading in shots 26-13, but the Bison led in shots on goal 11-7. Both teams won ten faceoffs, and the Golden Bears had more saves, 11-6. The Bison had more blocked shots, 12-2.

Overtime saw the Golden Bears win the opening faceoff and have the first shot saved by Muir. The Bison countered with a shot after that. Then, the Golden Bears had three of the final four shots of overtime, and the contest went to a shootout. The first round of the shootout saw Rachael Irving make a save, and Muir reflected that. The second round saw the goalies both make saves once again. Then, in the third round, Irving made a save, and Alyssa Murphy would pocket the shootout goal and win the game for the Golden Bears.

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears hosted the Nichols College Bison on Friday.
• Neither team scored in the first period of play.
• 2nd 5:11 – Grace Melanson opened the scoring for the Bison with a goal assisted by Alexis Pacheco and Kerstin Ambruso. The Bison led 1-0.
• 3rd 12:34 – Julia Roman tied the game at 1-1 with a goal assisted by Jenna Lynch and Alyssa Murphy.
• Shootout – Alyssa Murphy scored the shootout goal to give the Golden Bears the win.
• Mackenzie Muir made 36 saves.
• Rachael Irving made 29 saves.
• The Golden Bears defeated the Bison 1-0 in a shootout.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will travel to Suffolk University on Saturday, February 22, 2025, for their final regular season game at 4:50 PM.
• The Bison will travel back home to host the University of New England at 4:40 PM on Saturday, February 22, 2025.