BOSTON, Mass. (January 3, 2026) –Everest Schneider found the back of the net for the first time this season, which was the game-winning goal on Saturday afternoon for the Western New England men's ice hockey team, who defeated the Trailblazers of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) by a final score of 3-2 in overtime in the Consolation Game of the 70^th Annual Codfish Bowl. 

Records:

• Western New England: 3-8
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts: 3-7-2

How it Happened:

First Period:

• Nikita Volsky made the start for the Golden Bears and made a save just 35 seconds into the game to open play as the Golden Bears searched for their second win of the season over MCLA. Volsky had three saves in the first four minutes of the game, while Western New England's first shot on goal in the contest came just short of six minutes into the contest when yesterday's goal scorer Matty Zdanowicz took a shot on MCLA's Josh Giard. Following the shot on goal, Western New England carried much of the offensive momentum heading into the midway point of the period. 
• The good offense from the Golden Bears saw the Blue and Gold earn the first power play of the game, one that resulted in the first goal of the game for Western New England when Matthew Dougherty found the back of the net for the first time this season in his third game played, giving the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. Philippe Longchamps and Nick Theodos picked up assists for Western New England on the goal. Following the goal for Western New England, the two teams exchanged chances with Giard and Volsky coming up big for their respective teams. 
• MCLA tallied a goal with just 12 seconds remaining in the period to even the score when Sam Perdion beat Volsky for his second goal of the season, heading into the locker room deadlocked at one. The Golden Bears outshot MCLA 12-8 in the opening period, with Dougherty and Perdion scoring the two goals in the period. 

Second Period:

• Volsky had the opening save again in the second period, just 1:16 in, stopping a chance from MCLA's Sean Schifferi to keep the game level at one. The Golden Bears did not have a shot on goal through the first five minutes of the second period, a period in which the Blue and Gold struggled in yesterday, giving up three goals in the frame on their way to the loss. A penalty on WNE resulted in a power play chance for the Trailblazers 4:43 into the second, while MCLA took advantage of the chance with 15 seconds remaining on the man advantage when Perdion scored his second goal of the game, giving MCLA a 2-1 lead. 
• The Golden Bears tallied just a single blocked shot through the first seven minutes of the period until the Blue and Gold were rewarded a power play, which resulted in a pair of shots that went wide of the net as WNE was held without a SOG through the midway point of the period. Following a faceoff win by Everest Schneider, the senior captain had the first shot on goal with seven minutes remaining in the second period, a shot turned aside by MCLA's Josh Giard as MCLA held onto a 2-1 lead. 
• With six minutes remaining in the frame, Western New England was whistled for another penalty, giving another advantage to their opponent, but the Blue and Gold flipped that advantage into one of their own when Matthew Dougherty netted his second goal of the season and the first shorthanded goal of the season for the Golden Bears, which tied the game at two. MCLA returned to the power play that was unsuccessful, resulting in just a goal for WNE to even the score. 
• Western New England had just two shots on goal in the second period, taking eight total shots, one of which found the back of the net, Dougherty's second of the game, to tie the game after 40 minutes of action. Nikita Volsky picked up nine saves on ten shots on goal in the second period with the game tied 2-2 heading into the third period. 

Third Period:

• The Golden Bears had the better of the scoring chances in the opening five minutes of the third period, picking up two quick power plays, looking to take their lead back that they held in the first period. The Golden Bears took four total shots on their advantage but did not find the back of the net. WNE flipped the script on MCLA in the third period in terms of offensive production as the Trailblazers had just two shots on goal total through the midway point of the period.
• MCLA found their skating game and offense following the halfway mark of the period, while Nitkita Vosly continued to stay strong in between the pipes for Western New England. With 3:10 remaining in the period, Western New England took a penalty that resulted in three shots for MCLA, one on goal, but again Volsky came big for the Golden Bears. 
• The 2:00 mark stopped MCLA's penalty and brought the game to four-on-four following a penalty on the Trailblazers, giving the Golden Bears an advantage with a minute remaining in the game, a stretch where WNE dominated the offense, but could not find the back of the net for a potential game-winning goal. The Golden Bears picked up multiple shots late in the third period, but the game needed overtime to settle a winner. 

Overtime:

• The Golden Bears had full control of the first three minutes of the overtime period, with Michael Bottrell and Matty Zdanowicz putting shots on goal but were turned away by Giard to keep the game even at two. 
• With 1:39 remaining in the overtime session, WNE found the game-winning goal when Everest Schneider beat Giard over the glove on an assist from Brayden Patricia, helping the Golden Bears come away with a 3-2 victory in the extra session, sweeping the season series over MCLA with a pair of wins this season. 

Inside the Lines:

• Matthew Dougherty led Western New England's offense with two goals, his first two goals of the season. Dougherty took three shots in the game, one in each period, won two of three faceoffs, and blocked one shot. 
• Everest Schneider had the game-winning goal in overtime for Western New England, scoring his first goal of the season and 12^th career goal for the Golden Bears. 
• Nick Theodos, Philippe Longchamps, and Brayden Patricia recorded assists for the Golden Bears in the win. 
• Nikita Volsky earned his first career collegiate victory on Saturday afternoon, making 23 saves in the win to help the Golden Bears.
• WNE outshot MCLA 28-25 in the game. The Golden Bears picked up 38 wins in the faceoff circle on 68 attempts. 
• The Golden Bears earn their second win of the season over MCLA after a road victory in November. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears return to action on Thursday, January 8 at 7:00 PM, heading to Endicott College, returning to Conference of New England action.