MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (November 6, 2026) – The Western New England men's ice hockey team opened conference play on the road Friday evening, taking on Salve Regina University in the first game of a home-and-home weekend series. The Golden Bears struck first late in the opening period on a goal from Mathew Fortin, but three unanswered second-period goals from the Seahawks turned the game in favor of the home team. Lucas Lagoutte brought Western New England within one on a third-period power-play goal, but the Golden Bears ultimately fell 3–2 despite a 35-save performance from Luca Scaglione.

Records:

Western New England: 0-2-1 (0-1-0)

Salve Regina: 3-0-0 (1-0-0)

How It Happened:

First Period:

• Western New England opened the contest with an early offensive push, recording shots on goal from Nick Frederick, Jett Carroll, and Matt Pacheco within the first three minutes of play. Salve Regina goaltender Kai Weigel turned aside all three opportunities to keep the game scoreless.

• The Seahawks generated opportunities of their own as the period progressed, but Golden Bears goaltender Luca Scaglione kept Salve Regina off the scoreboard. Western New England was called for the game's first penalty at 12:22. The Golden Bears successfully killed the penalty, with Scaglione making a save during the two-minute disadvantage.

• Western New England broke through at 17:25 when Mathew Fortin scored his first goal of the season to give the Golden Bears a 1–0 advantage. Gavin Mastrodonato earned the assist on the even-strength goal, putting WNE ahead late in the opening frame.

• Following the goal, Salve Regina was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, sending Western New England to its first power play of the evening. The Golden Bears generated a shot on goal from Liam Wells during the advantage but were unable to extend their lead. WNE carried its 1–0 advantage into the first intermission, outshooting the Seahawks 13–9 in the opening 20 minutes.

Second Period:

• The Golden Bears returned to the ice with their one-goal advantage and quickly tested Weigel with shots from Nolan Ring and Fortin in the opening 31 seconds. Salve Regina responded at 3:43 when Jack Arizo scored an even-strength goal off an assist from Mike Minchello, tying the contest at one goal apiece.

• Just over two minutes later, the Seahawks took their first lead of the evening. Brady Plaza found the back of the net at 6:10, with assists credited to Parker Mabbett and Teddie Hember, giving Salve Regina a 2–1 advantage.

• Western New England looked to respond as Ring, Lagoutte, and Michael Bottrell each recorded shots on goal over the next two minutes. However, the Seahawks extended their lead at 12:15 when Max Wennerberg scored on the power play, assisted by Minchello and Mabbett. The goal gave Salve Regina a 3–1 lead and would stand as the eventual game-winner.

• The Golden Bears earned a power-play opportunity at 13:03 following a slashing penalty. Mastrodonato registered a shot on goal during the advantage, but Weigel kept Western New England from cutting into the deficit.

• Salve Regina received another power play at 17:23 following a hooking penalty. Scaglione turned aside three shots during the penalty kill, keeping the Seahawks from adding to their lead. Western New England entered the second intermission trailing 3–1 after being outshot 15–9 in the middle period.

Third Period:

• Salve Regina opened the final period with four shots on goal in the first two minutes, all stopped by Scaglione. The Seahawks received another power-play opportunity at 3:13 following a boarding penalty against Kai Skilbeck, but the Golden Bears successfully killed the penalty to keep the deficit at two goals.

• Western New England began generating opportunities with the man advantage after Salve Regina was assessed interference penalties at 6:06 and 7:37. Bottrell, Fortin, and Ring each registered shots on goal during that stretch, but Weigel kept the Golden Bears from finding the back of the net.

• The Golden Bears finally broke through at 11:49 when Lagoutte scored an unassisted power-play goal, cutting Salve Regina's lead to 3–2. The goal, Lagoutte's first of the season, came just 50 seconds into Western New England's fifth power-play opportunity of the evening.

• With the deficit down to one, Western New England continued searching for the equalizer. Lagoutte recorded another shot on goal at 13:33, but Weigel made the save to preserve the Seahawks' narrow advantage.

• Salve Regina received a late power play at 17:36 following a Western New England faceoff violation. Scaglione stopped four shots during the penalty kill, allowing the Golden Bears to remain within striking distance. WNE returned to even strength with 24 seconds remaining and briefly pulled Scaglione for an extra attacker with 17 seconds left, but the Seahawks held on for the 3–2 victory. Salve Regina outshot Western New England 14–8 in the final period.

Inside the Crease:

• Western New England fell to Salve Regina 3–2 in its conference opener, with the Golden Bears scoring once in the first period and once in the third.

• Mathew Fortin opened the scoring with his first goal of the season at 17:25 of the first period. Gavin Mastrodonato recorded the assist on the even-strength goal.

• Lucas Lagoutte scored his first goal of the season at 11:49 of the third period, recording an unassisted power-play tally to bring the Golden Bears within one.

• Luca Scaglione made 35 saves in net for Western New England, stopping nine shots in the first period, 12 in the second, and 14 in the third. He finished with a .921 save percentage.

• The Seahawks held a 38–30 advantage in shots on goal. Fortin led Western New England with six shots, while Bottrell added four and Lagoutte and Ring recorded three apiece.

• Western New England converted one of its five power-play opportunities while successfully killing four of Salve Regina's five chances with the man advantage.

• The Golden Bears held a 33–22 advantage in faceoffs. Nick Frederick led the team with 13 faceoff wins in 20 attempts, while Fortin won all four of his faceoffs.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England will return home for its first home contest of the season at its new home, Smead Arena, on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The Golden Bears will host Salve Regina in the second game of their home-and-home weekend series, with puck drop scheduled for 4:00 p.m.