SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 22, 2025) – WNE traveled into Boston, Massachusetts, for their regular season finale versus Suffolk University. The Golden Bears scored the first two goals via Alyssa Murphy and Maddie Pope. However, the Rams answered with two goals of their own in the second period of play. The Golden Bears would see Mabel Gerard and Murphy end the game with goals to secure a home conference playoff game for a second consecutive year.

Records:

Western New England: 13-9-3 (7-8-3)

Suffolk University: 9-15-1 (7-10-1)

How it Happened:

Valerie DuVal won the Golden Bears the opening faceoff to start the contest. They then sent three shots at the Suffolk goalie, Katelyn Michals, who made the saves. Suffolk answered with three shots and two on net, but Rachael Irving made both saves for WNE. After another WNE shot on goal, Suffolk put together six shots in a row, and Irving made a save on the final shot. WNE answered with a run of six shots of their own, and after another Suffolk shot, WNE sent five more shots in the direction of the goal before Suffolk was called for a penalty, which led to the opening goal. Alyssa Murphy got the puck from Alexa Paoli, who received it from Valerie DuVal. Murphy would net the puck and give WNE the 1-0 lead with a power play goal. The Golden Bears were on a mission to win the game and earn a first-round home game in the CNE playoffs. That was evident when they added six more shots in a row to their total shots in the first period of play after the goal. The Golden Bears were called for a penalty shortly after that run. That led to the Rams having three power-play shots. One tested Irving, but Irving was able to make the save. Just after the Golden Bears killed off the penalty, they were on the power play for a second time during the opening period of play. They had three shots, with one needing to be saved by Michals. Six seconds after that power play expired, they were on a third power play to conclude the first period of play. They had two shots before the end of the first, and Suffolk ended the first with a shorthanded shot saved by Irving. The Golden Bears went into the first intermission leading 1-0 and still on the power play. The first period of play stats saw WNE leading in shots 26-14 and shots on goal 14-5. Suffolk led in faceoff wins 13-6, blocked shots 7-5, and saves 13-5.

Suffolk won the opening faceoff, but WNE would test Michals one more time on the power play before it expired. Michals made the save. Suffolk would accumulate eight shots in a row after the conclusion of the WNE power play. WNE would end that run of shots before Suffolk tallied three more. However, even with all of the shots from Suffolk, it was WNE who would score the second goal of the game. Alexa Paoli tried to send a long pass up the ice, but it was hit down by a Suffolk player to Allison Walker, who found Maddie Pope on the right side of the goal. Pope skated down and sent a quick shot past the goalie, and WNE led 2-0. The Golden Bears would find their shot after that goal, picking up six of the next seven shots. The Rams did not let that WNE pressure get to them, as they answered with twelve shots in a row. The final shot of that run put the Rams on the board. Liliana Moose found Liv O'Brien with a pass. O'Brien directed the puck to Jenna Caballero, who scored with 7:46 remaining in the second period of play. WNE led 2-1. After a WNE shot, WNE was called for a penalty. The Rams had seven shots during the power play but no goal. Irving made six saves during the penalty. However, the Rams kept the pressure on. They had three more shots in a row after the penalty, and the third was the game-tying goal. Liliana Moose scored on assists from Kate Pohl and Sammy Lassman. The game was tied 2-2 with 3:28 left in the second period of play. Each team had three shots before the end of the second, and they went into the second intermission tied 2-2. After the second, the Rams led in shots on goal 25-21, total shots 51-39, and faceoff wins 30-13. WNE had more saves 23-19 and blocked shots 14-10.

DuVal won the third period of play opening faceoff in the 2-2 game. However, it was Suffolk who had the first shot on goal. WNE answered with a shot on Michals, who made a save. After one more Suffolk shot, the Golden Bears went on the power play. The Golden Bears had four shots on the power play, with the second being another power-play goal. Valerie DuVal sent a shot at the goal, which was deflected wide by Gerard. Maddie Pope collected the puck and found Gerard in front of the net. Gerard sent the puck up and over the shoulder of the goalie to give the Golden Bears the lead, 3-2 with 14:18 left in the contest. Shortly after, the Golden Bears committed a penalty, and Suffolk had seven shots in a row on the power play chance. That was followed by two more Suffolk shots before a break in the action. The teams traded some shots before the Golden Bears had a run of seven shots in a row, which brought the game to the final five minutes of play. Suffolk had three shots in a row as a response before they pulled their goalie to get the extra skater on the ice. The Rams would then take a timeout with 1:46 remaining, but it would not help them out as Alyssa Murphy would scoop the puck in the defensive zone, skate it towards the offensive zone, and then fire a long-range shot into the bottom of the Suffolk net to give WNE the 4-2 lead with 1:26 left in the game. Suffolk would conclude the game with two more shots, but neither shot was a goal, and WNE would win the game 4-2 and host a home CNE postseason tournament game with the win. The final stats saw WNE leading in shots on goal 32-31, saves 29-28, and blocked shots 23-13. Suffolk led in total shots 71-54, and faceoff wins 38-25.

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears visited Suffolk University on Saturday.
• 1st 10:02 – Alyssa Murphy scored a power-play goal off assists from Alexa Paoli and Valerie DuVal. WNE led 1-0.
• 2nd 5:31 – Maddie Pope doubled the Golden Bears lead with a goal assisted by Allison Walker and Alexa Paoli. WNE led 2-0.
• 2nd 12:14 – Jenna Caballero cut the deficit in half with a goal assisted by Liv O'Brien and Liliana Moose. WNE led 2-1.
• 2nd 16:32 –  Liliana Moose scored to tie the game at 2-2. Kate Pohl and Sammy Lassman were credited with the assists.
• 3rd 5:42 – Mabel Gerard gave the Golden Bears the lead back with a goal assisted by Maddie Pope and Valerie DuVal. WNE led 3-2.
• 3rd 18:34 – Alyssa Murphy netted the empty-net goal to secure the WNE victory, 4-2.
• Katelyn Michals made 28 saves for the Rams.
• Rachael Irving made 29 saves to earn the Golden Bears the win.
• WNE defeated Suffolk, 4-2.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will enter the CNE postseason tournament and play on Wednesday, February 22, 2025, inside the Olympia Ice Center at 2:00 PM.