Western New England University

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 31, 2026) – The Western New England women's ice hockey team scored just 21 seconds into the opening period of Saturday night's season opener and never looked back, seeing six Golden Bears find the back of the net in a 6-1 win over the Raiders of Rivier University. 
Records:

• Western New England: 1-0-0
• Rivier University: 0-1-1

How it Happened:

First Period:

• It took the Golden Bears just 21 seconds to come away with their first goal of the season, as senior Jenna Lynch found the back of the net on a rebound chance. Mabel Gerard earned the primary assist on the play, while Makenzie Copeland came away with her first career collegiate point with the secondary assist, giving WNE the 1-0 lead. 
• Less than three minutes later, the Blue and Gold struck again, as Katie Collins picked up her first of the season to double the WNE lead at the 3:13 mark of the period. Lynch earned her second point of the night and first assist of the season, giving WNE a 2-0 lead. 
• Rivier's first shot came from Marina Bassett, five minutes into the game. Bassett took a pair of shots, one wide of the cage and another blocked by Kelsey Joiner to keep the Raiders from scoring. 
• At the midway point of the period, WNE scored once more as Caroline Bliss took an errant by the Raiders and snuck the puck through the five-hole of Ragan Schank, extending the WNE lead to 3-0. 
• Goals kept coming for the Golden Bears, who added one more tally before the period ended after Leah Dube took a shot from the blue line that was deflected down in front by Alana Bouthillette, who took a shot on goal that was saved, but a rebound was jammed home by Kaylin O'Connor, giving Western New England the 4-0 lead. 
• WNE outshot Rivier 20-2 on goal in the period and held the 28-10 advantage in total shots in the period. 

Second Period:

• Western New England continued to fire shots on goal in the second period, coming away with three on goal in the opening three minutes, but the Raiders kept the Golden Bears from scoring another early period goal. 
• The Golden Bears were able to score just past the midway point of the second frame when 2025-26 WNE All-American Michaela Birmingham picked up where she left off from last season, depositing her first goal of the season on assists from Valerie DuVal and Kelsey Joiner, giving the Golden Bears a commanding 5-0 lead.
• Rivier cashed in on its first powerplay of the game when Bryce Margolin tipped home a shot from Teyla and Lillian Wojcicki, giving the Raiders their first goal of the night to get back within four, trailing 5-1. 
• Western New England had the 17-9 shots on goal advantage in the period, while both teams picked up a goal in the period. 

Third Period:

• The Golden Bears scored the lone goal of the period to ice the game away as Valerie DuVal picked up her first of the season on assists from Julia Lindgren and Kaylin O'Connor, giving WNE a 6-1 lead. 
• WNE held the 7-6 shots on goal advantage in the final period and took the only two penalties of the frame. 

Inside the Lines:

• A pair of Golden Bears picked up two points on the night, as Kaylin O'Connor, Jenna Lynch, and Valerie DuVal had a goal and an assist each. 
• O'Connor, Lynch, DuVal, Michaela Birmingham, Caroline Bliss and Katie Collins all found the back of the net for WNE. 
• Both Julia Lindgren and Makenzie Copeland picked up their first career points in their first game of their careers. 
• WNE outshot Rivier 44-17 in the win. Rachael Irving made 16 saves between the pipes. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE is back at home on Friday, November 6 at 7:40 PM, hosting Salve Regina University in Conference of New England action.