WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 23, 2026) – The women's hockey team held their annual Hockey Fights Cancer game on Friday evening. They hosted Trinity College for the event, and it started exactly like the Golden Bears wanted. Maddie Pope found the back of the net in the first to lift WNE to an early lead. WNE extended their lead to three in the second with two Katie Collins goals, but the Bantams responded with two of their own. That did not faze WNE as they scored one more in the second and held a 4-2 lead with one period of play remaining. Zoe Galanoudis would net WNE's fifth goal, and Maddie Pope would net their sixth in the third and seal the win for the Golden Bears, 6-2.

Records:
Western New England: 10-6-0 (7-3-0)
Trinity College: 6-9-1 (2-5-1)

How it Happened:
First Period:

• The opening period of play saw the Bantams have the early shot chances, but the Golden Bears would turn the momentum after a breakaway save from WNE's Rachael Irving.
• A Bantam penalty led to a Golden Bear power play. The Golden Bears had two shots on the power play, with the second being a goal from Maddie Pope at 7:38 into the contest. Lilly Ainley and Mabel Gerard got credit for the assists.
• The Bantams answered with a flurry of shots. Twelve in a row and fifteen of the next sixteen shots. However, Irving stood strong. WNE ended the first period of play with five of the final six shots in the final two minutes. At the end of the first, WNE had the lead, but Trinity had more shots, 20-14, and shots on goal, 10-4. They also won the majority of faceoffs, 11-7.

Second Period:

• The Golden Bears got the second period of play off to the perfect start. They had a few shots, and Leah Dube would send the puck to Jenna Lynch, who selflessly passed up a shot chance and passed the puck to Katie Collins, who scored. WNE led 2-0 5:28 into the second. Forty-eight seconds later, Kaylin O'Connor took a shot, which was saved and sent into the back of the net by Collins. WNE led 3-0.
• The Bantams would not go away lightly and responded. With the teams playing 4-on-4 action, Nani Keyes took advantage of a turnover and scored. WNE's lead was 3-1 with just over half the second remaining. Then, after 11 of the next 14 shots came from the Bantams, the Golden Bears turned the puck over again, and Gabriela Gross scored. WNE's lead was back down to one, 3-2, with over five minutes left in the second.
• The Golden Bears did not waver; instead, with 26 seconds left in the second, Jenna Lynch received a pass from Mabel Gerard on a breakaway and scored. The Golden Bears had a two-goal lead back thanks to Jenna Lynch's goal. WNE led 4-2 after the second, and during the second led in shots on goal 11-10. Both teams had eight faceoff wins, and Trinity had more total shots, 22-14.

Third Period:

• The third period of play saw the Golden Bears secure two more goals. It started with a Zoe Galanoudis goal 10:15 into the final period of play. Caroline Bliss took the puck from Trinity after a turnover and sent a shot at the goalie, which was redirected to Galanoudis, who scored to make the lead 5-2.
• Then, after the Golden Bears successfully defended a Trinity power play, they would go on their own power play, and Maddie Pope found the back of the net for the second time on Friday. Michaela Birmingham and Jenna Lynch were credited with the assists as WNE led 6-2 with 6:46 left in the contest.
• Time would run out soon after the goal from Maddie Pope. The Golden Bears captured their tenth win of the season, 6-2. However, the Bantams did have more shots on goal (30-29), total shots (61-44), and faceoffs won (29-27).

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears picked up a 6-2 win on Friday.
• Katie Collins and Maddie Pope led the Golden Bears with each having two goals.
• Jenna Lynch led the team in points with three. One goal and two assists.
• Kaylin O'Connor and Jenna Lynch both led WNE with three blocked shots each.
• Rachael Irving made 28 saves and only let up two goals for WNE. That was good enough for a .933 save percentage.
• Nani Keyes and Gabriela Gross each picked up a goal for the Bantams.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will travel to Rhode Island to face a familiar nonconference foe, Salve Regina University. The Golden Bears will travel to Middletown, Rhode Island, to face the Seahawks at 7:30 PM.