WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 6, 2026) – The Western New England women's ice hockey team opened Conference of New England (CNE) action with a 5-0 shutout victory over the Seahawks of Salve Regina University on Friday night inside the Olympia Ice Center. Forward
Katie Collins led WNE with a three-point night, while goaltender
Rachael Irving stopped all 29 shots faced in the win.
Records:
- Western New England: 2-0-0, 1-0-0 CNE
- Salve Regina University: 0-1-0, 0-1-0 CNE
How it Happened:
First Period:
- Rachael Irving was tested early as the Seahawks had a quick step in their game to begin the night. Irving came up with five saves in under a two-minute span to keep the Seahawks from scoring an early goal.
- Western New England buried the first goal of the game right at the midway mark of the opening frame when Lilly Ainley tucked home a blocked shot to pick up her first goal of the season. Leah Dube and Julia Lindgren recorded assists for the Golden Bears on the goal.
- Just over four minutes later, Katie Collins found the back of the net for the second time this season, beating Salve's Kristen Albertini on a short side shot that found its way into the back of the net, giving WNE a 2-0 lead. Mabel Gerard and Kaylin O'Connor picked up assists on the goal.
- Salve Regina had the opening period shots advantage, 11-10, with Irving making all 11 saves to begin the night.
Second Period:
- After a penalty-free opening 20 minutes, the second frame saw seven minors called, three on WNE and four on Salve Regina. Salve had the first three power plays of the night, forcing Irving to make seven saves in the opening 3:45 of the first period before WNE could come up with their first shot of the frame.
- Western New England was able to kill off the three penalties and would come up with their third goal of the game at the 13:07 mark of the second period when Mikayla Mrzywka found the back of the net on the first power play attempt for the Golden Bears, scoring her first of the season, to extend the WNE lead to 3-0. Leah Dube and Ava Camelio picked up assists for the Golden Bears on the goal.
- WNE cashed in twice more before the period ended, all on the power play. Jenna Lynch found the back of the net on a rebound chance after a shot from Katie Collins was saved; Lynch buried the puck with a wide-open net, giving the Golden Bears a 4-0 lead.
- With 2:49 to play in the period, Collins found twine again on an assist from Mabel Gerard and Lynch, squeezing the puck past Albertini, giving the Golden Bears a commanding 5-0 lead.
- Despite the slow start to the period, WNE outshot Salve 14-11 in the frame overall.
Third Period:
- With the game well in hand, Western New England cruised in the third period to come away with a win. The WNE defense held Salve to just seven shots in the period, all taken in by Irving, to preserve the shutout.
- Western New England had three chances on the power play in the third period, but could not score, holding onto the 5-0 win.
Inside the Lines:
- Katie Collins led the offense with two goals and an assist for Western New England in the win. Collins took six shots in the game overall.
- Rachael Irving made 29 saves between the pipes for her first shutout of the season.
- Western New England won 40 of the 63 faceoffs, with Mabel Gerard winning 16 of those.
- Nine total Golden Bears had at least one point on the night.
- Both WNE and Salve Regina blocked 18 shots.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- The Golden Bears travel to visit Salve Regina on Saturday, November 7 for a 5:00 PM puck drop.
