WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 14, 2026) – The Western New England women's ice hockey team picked up six goals in a 6-2 victory over the Rams of Suffolk University on Saturday night, a goal apiece from six different goal scorers, to avenge a pair of early-season losses at the hands of the Rams. 

Records:

• Western New England: 16-6-1, 12-3-1 CNE
• Suffolk University: 5-15-2, 5-9-2 CNE

How it Happened:

First Period:

• The opening three and a half minutes saw back-and-forth action before Suffolk earned the opening power play of the game and capitalized. On a shot from the blue line, Suffolk's Lily Abraham was able to beat Rachael Irving up and over the glove to give the Rams a 1-0 lead. The Golden Bears punched back with a pair of shots before Mikayla Mrzywka put on a magic show and shoveled a backhanded shot over the glove of Suffolk's Lucy Cantin to tie the game at one. Mrzywka's seventh goal of the season was unassisted at the 7:05 mark of the period. 
• The Golden Bears earned a pair of power plays at the midway point of the period and capitalized on their deadly power play. After a shot from Lilly Ainley missed the goal, Maddie Pope found the puck at the back post and banked a shot off a Suffolk defender, which deflected into the goal, giving Western New England its first lead of the night. WNE had three power play chances in the period, scoring once. 
• In total, WNE picked up 28 shots to Suffolk's nine, while the Blue and Gold outshot Suffolk 12-4 on goal. 

Second Period:

• Suffolk quickly tied the game in the opening minute and a half of the second period, scoring its second power play goal of the game when Anya Nichipor found the back of the net for the second time this season for the Rams, evening the game at two. The most penalized team in the Conference of New England, Suffolk, went back to the penalty box, allowing Western New England to score on the power play again. A shot from the blue line from Leah Dube deflected off a Suffolk defender into the net, giving Dube a goal in back-to-back nights and three for the season, putting WNE ahead again 3-2. 
• In a penalty-filled frame, both teams saw action on the power play after their pair of goals early on in the period, but did not add any additional tallies on the advantage. Suffolk's best chance to tie the game came with six minutes remaining in the period when both Liliana Moose and Cassie Borowski came up with back-to-back shots on goal, saved by Rachael Irving. 
• In the final two minutes of the period, a four-on-four goal came about for the Golden Bears to grab a two-goal lead for the first time in the game when Kaylin O'Connor tipped home a shot from the point from Kelsey Joiner, scoring her third goal of the season, putting the Golden Bears ahead 4-2. Leah Dube added the secondary assist on the goal for the Blue and Gold. 
• Both teams took 11 shots on goal each in the frame. Irving came up with ten saves overall. A total of seven penalties were called in the period, four advantages for WNE and three for Suffolk. 

Third Period:

• A penalty to Suffolk just 25 seconds into the frame saw Western New England cash in just nine seconds into the chance to take a 5-2 lead. WNE's Katie Collins found the back of the net for the fifth time this season on assists from Leah Dube and Valerie DuVal to put the Golden Bears ahead by three.
• 1:17 after the Collins goal, Western New England picked up another mark, this one coming even strength, when Michaela Birmingham found twine for the eighth time this season on an assist from Lilly Ainley, giving the Golden Bears a commanding four-goal lead, 6-2. The Golden Bears held much of the offensive attack in the period, not allowing Suffolk back into the game. The Rams took six more penalties in the period.
• The Rams put together just six total shots in the period, four shots that ended up on goal, all handled by Rachael Irving, who made 17 saves in the game on 19 total shots faced. The Golden Bears came up with a 6-2 victory over the Rams on Saturday night for three big points in the conference standings, remaining in the top spot overall and avenging a pair of early-season defeats at the hands of Suffolk.  

 Inside the Lines:

• Six different goal scorers for Western New England led them to a Saturday night victory. Mikayla Mrzywka, Maddie Pope, Leah Dube, Kaylin O'Connor, Katie Collins, and Michaela Birmingham picked up tallies in the win. 
• Dube led WNE with three points in the win, adding a pair of assists. Valerie DuVal and Lilly Ainley both had a pair of assists for the Golden Bears. 
• Jenna Lynch added an assist and blocked four shots, keeping her point streak alive, picking up at least a point in the last 11 games. 
• Suffolk took 14 total penalties in the game, consisting of 36 total minutes in the box.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE heads into the final regular season weekend of the schedule holding onto the top spot in the CNE standings. The Golden Bears travel to Johnson & Wales University on Friday, February 20, at 7:00 PM before hosting the University of New England on Saturday, February 21, at 1:30 PM for Senior Day.