Box Score PAWTUCKET, R.I. (January 16, 2026) – Jenna Lynch broke a 1-1 deadlock in the final four minutes of the third period on Friday night to give the Western New England women's ice hockey team a big 2-1 victory over the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University, allowing WNE to sweep this week's series over JWU in Conference of New England action.  

Records:

• Western New England: 8-6-0, 6-3-0 CNE
• Johnson & Wales University: 6-7-0, 4-4-0 CNE

How it Happened:

First Period:

• Western New England opened with much of the offensive pressure. JWU's Avery Hall made two early saves on Mikayla Mrzywka while the Golden Bears had a power play just 2:53 into the opening period. Western New England generated three shots on goal, one each from Mabel Gerard, Jenna Lynch, and Lilly Ainley, but the Golden Bears could not score in the early goings. 
• JWU's first power play also came early, less than five minutes into the period, which saw Rachael Irving tested three times, making all three saves. Following the power play, Johnson & Wales kept up the pressure on WNE's defense, which kept the hosting Wildcats without a goal through the midway point of the period. The Golden Bears went over ten minutes without a shot in the frame, with WNE's next shot coming from Valerie DuVal with six minutes to play in the period. 
• The final 50 seconds of the period were dominated by Western New England, who nearly had their first goal of the game when Michaela Birmingham and Duval had back-to-back shots, both saved by JWU's Hall to end the period. The Wildcats overtook Western New England in the opening period, taking 12 shots to WNE's seven. 

Second Period:

• The Golden Bears started on the power play after JWU took a minor just 34 seconds into the period, a power play which produced five Western New England shots on goal, all saved by Avery Hall.  The Wildcats responded with a goal following the kill when Julia O'Keefe beat Rachael Irving on assists from Jordan Hopping and Allyson Barry, giving Johnson & Wales a 1-0 lead 3:35 into the period. 
• Down one, the Golden Bears couldn't shrug off the JWU offense, which continued to test Irving and the WNE defense. The Golden Bears were able to muster their own opportunities again at the eight-minute mark and scored their first of the game when Jenna Lynch found the back of the net for the fifth time this season on assists from Mabel Gerard and Maddie Pope, evening the score at one.  From there, the Wildcats went back on the attack, testing Irving again, but couldn't find the back of the net. 
• WNE went on another power play with six minutes remaining in the third period, producing another three shots on goal, but couldn't score as the game remained scoreless when the intermission horn sounded. WNE took 17 shots on goal in the period, finding the back of the net once, while JWU took 11 shots, also scoring once. The two teams went into the third period tied 1-1. 

Third Period:

• Both teams exchanged early chances in the opening five minutes of the period, but neither team was able to find the tiebreaking goal. The Golden Bears picked up another power play at the 8:24 mark of the third period, a power play that produced three shots on goal, but Hall was able to keep JWU with the Golden Bears. 
• With Western New England turning the momentum, JWU found its offensive stride with under eight minutes remaining as Ava Morgan and Grace Adams tested Irving with shots on goal but could not score. 
• The Golden Bears broke the ice with a goal with 3:39 remaining in the third period as Lynch had her second goal of the game to give WNE a 2-1 lead. Lynch stole the puck from a JWU defender, took a shot that was originally saved by Hall, but a rebound chance was buried by the WNE junior, giving the Golden Bears the all-important one-goal lead. The Golden Bears were able to fight off the Wildcats in the final two minutes to come away with the 2-1 victory. 

Inside the Lines:

• Jenna Lynch had the two goals for the Golden Bears, including the difference maker with 3:49 remaining in the third period to give the Blue and Gold the 2-1 victory. Lynch took ten shots in the game, nine on goal. 
• Rachael Irving collected 28 saves for WNE, allowing just one goal in the victory. 
• The Golden Bears outshot JWU 35-29 in the game. 
• JWU blocked 18 shots, with WNE taking 68 total shots towards the goal. 
• The Golden Bears sweep this week's series against the Wildcats, outscoring JWU 6-2.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears return to the Olympia Ice Center on Friday, January 23, for their annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night for an 8:10 PM puck drop against Trinity College.