Box Score BEVERLY, Mass. (January 8, 2026) – The Western New England men's ice hockey team fell behind by four goals in the first eight minutes of the game to the 11^th-ranked Gulls of Endicott College and could not make a comeback, dropping an 8-2 decision on Thursday night. 

Records:

• Western New England: 3-9-0, 1-6-0 CNE
• No. 11 Endicott College: 10-1-1, 6-1-1 CNE

How it Happened:

First Period:

• Endicott took just over a minute into the game to score the first goal after Nikita Volsky made a save, but Endicott's Sebastian Speck stuffed in a rebound chance to quickly give the Gulls a 1-0 lead. Endicott's first-period goal parade continued with a second goal when John Goldowski tallied his fourth goal of the season just 2:13 into the period on an assist from Payton Miller and Brad Zona, putting EC ahead by two. 
• Western New England's defense was stymied by one of the top defenses in Division III, not being able to register a shot on goal through the first eight minutes of the game. Endicott struck for a third goal at the 7:29 mark of the opening period when James Hooley picked up his first of the season for EC, extending the Gulls' lead. The final goal for Endicott of the period came just 30 seconds later when Louie Kamienski tallied his fifth of the season, putting the Gulls ahead 4-0 in the first eight minutes. 
• The Golden Bears were able to slow Endicott's offense following and began generating chances of their own, as Brayden Patricia had the first shot on goal for the Blue and Gold in the game, while Kai Skilbeck and Everest Schneider all had chances, but Endicott's Peter Sterling kept Western New England off the scoreboard. WNE had the first power play of the night but picked up just two shots that went wide of the cage in the game. Endicott picked up 21 shots on goal in the opening period, 17 saves by Volsky. Peter Sterling made five saves on five shots on goal for the Gulls. 

Second Period:

• Volsky and the Golden Bears held their own in the second period as the first-year keeper made five saves in the opening two minutes. The Golden Bears rewarded their goaltender with a goal when Matthew Dougherty continued his hot streak, scoring his third of the season on assists from Kyle Walker and Daniel Demchuk, putting the Blue and Gold on the scoreboard, trailing 4-1. 
• Endicott pressed following the WNE goal in the early stages of the period and retaliated with a goal right at the midway point of the second period when Noah Gibbs scored for the Gulls, his sixth of the season, putting Endicott ahead by four again, 5-1. Western New England had another power play in the period, putting one shot on goal by Billy VanSumeren, but couldn't find twine. 
• The Golden Bears got 14 saves on 15 shots on goal from Volsky in the second period, while Sterling made four saves on five shots on goal by the Golden Bears. Endicott took their 5-1 lead heading into the third period of play. 

Third Period:

• The Gulls had a power play at the four-minute mark of the third period, where Nikita Volsky made four saves to keep Endicott off the board with the Golden Bears killing off the advantage.  Shortly after the advantage for the Gulls was killed, Endicott got on the scoreboard for the sixth time in the game when Mark D'Agostino found twine for the second time on the year to give the hosts a 6-1 lead. 
• Endicott had their seventh goal of the night just 56 seconds after their sixth when Anthony Cafarelli scored his fourth of the season, extending Endicott's lead. Western New England potted their second goal of the night when Matty Zdanowicz redirected home a shot from Alex Varrin to pick up his third goal of the season. Spencer Clark picked up the secondary assist for the Blue and Gold. 
• Endicott added a late tally in the final four minutes of the game and would go on to defeat the Golden Bears by a final score of 8-2. 

Inside the Lines:

• A pair of Golden Bears notched their third goals of the season. Matthew Dougherty scored his third goal of the year in his fourth game played this season, while Matty Zdanowicz got on the board for the third time in his ninth game skated this season. 
• Kyle Walker, Daniel Demchuk, Alex Varrin, and Spencer Clark recorded assists for WNE. Both Varrin and Clark picked up their first career collegiate points on the night.
• Despite the high goal count, Nikita Volsky ended the night with 46 saves, producing a 0.852 save percentage. 
• The Golden Bears put together 16 shots on goal in the game. 
• This is the second straight meeting in which the Gulls have hung eight goals on the Golden Bears. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England will look to get back to their winning ways when they take the ice on Saturday, January 10 at 3:00 PM on the road at Johnson & Wales University.