WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 7, 2026) – WNE hosted Endicott College for the second time this season, having beaten the Gulls 5-2 in November. The Gulls would impress early and score three goals in 31:07. However, the Golden Bears had an answer for every goal scored. Ainley, Gerard, and Palmitesso led the Golden Bears to overtime, and then it was Lilly Ainley who won the game for WNE in a shootout.

Records:
Western New England: 14-6-1 (10-3-1)
Endicott College: 16-4-2 (12-2-1)

How it Happened:
First Period:

• Endicott had the first seven shots of the contest. The seventh shot found the back of the goal, and 3:13 into the game, Ava Schmidt had given Endicott a 1-0 advantage. Riley Perkins was credited with the assist.
• WNE started to fight their way back into the game, though. They earned a power play at 5:23 into the first period of play. However, 20 seconds later, they were called for a penalty. The teams both had chances, but nothing would impact the scoreboard until WNE ended up with another power play, and this time, they capitalized! Lilly Ainley scored off Jenna Lynch and Maddie Pope's assists. The score was tied 1-1 at 8:15 in the first.
• A few minutes later, Lily Anderson found the back of the net, and WNE trailed by one once again. Endicott's Teaghan Hall and Ava Schmidt assisted the goal. Less than five minutes later, WNE scored again on the power play. This time, Mabel Gerard scored off assists from Michaela Birmingham and Lilly Ainley. The score was tied 2-2 after the first.
• WNE outshot Endicott when it came to shots on goal, 10-9 in the first. Endicott did have more saves, though, which meant 8-7. WNE was 2-for-3 on the power play.

Second Period:

• The second saw more scoring but less than the original period of play. Endicott came out of the first intermission on a true mission. They had the first 22 shots of the second period of play. WNE did not have a shot until 12:35 into the second. That final shot of the run to start the second for Endicott was an Ella Rago goal assisted by Eliza Barker.
• Endicott had all the momentum, and it looked as if the Golden Bears were fading, but after six more Endicott shots in a row, Mischa Palmitesso tied the game at 3-3. Michael Birmingham found Kaylin O'Connor. O'Connor found Palmitesso, who found the third WNE goal of the contest with 3:14 left in the second.
• The second ended with Endicott having the final four shots and five of the final six. The score was locked at three at the second intermission. Shots on goal favored Endicott 20-4 in the middle period of play. However, WNE led in saves 19-3. It was looking like the third was going to be a great end to the game.

Third Period:

• Endicott started the third similarly to the second. They had nine shots in a row, but this time, that included a power play chance. WNE answered with a few shots of their own, but the Gulls kept the pressure up.
• They had another power play and had nine shots, but once again, Rachael Irving and the WNE defense did not allow a goal. Endicott kept the shots flying at Irving, but no goals were allowed. A WNE power play saw them get some momentum with three shots, but they could not make it three power play goals.
• Endicott had the final six shots of the third, but Jenna Lynch blocked four of the shots in thirty seconds and sent the game to overtime. WNE got outshot 14-3 in the third. They led 14-3 in saves, and the game went to overtime.

Overtime:

• Overtime saw, WNE got outshot 5-2 when it came to shots on goal. The teams battled back and forth. Lauren Ferrari and Rachael Irving made save after save. However, 65 minutes were not enough to find a winner, and the contest went to a shootout.
• After overtime and regular time, Endicott had more shots on goal, 48-10, but WNE had more faceoff wins, 38-27, more blocked shots, 30-5, and more saves, 45-16.

Shootout:

• The Gulls would go first in the shootout. Irving and Ferrari made saves on the first three shot-takers. The contest would go to sudden death.
• One by one, the shot-takers skated onto the ice, and both Irving and Ferrari denied all of them. It was not until the sixth set of shot-takers that the contest found a winner.
• First-year, Lilly Ainley was the hero for WNE. Ainley was able to get the puck past Ferrari, and WNE won the game 1-0 in a shootout.

Inside the Crease:

• WNE tied Endicott 3-3, but won 1-0 in a shootout.
• Lilly Ainley was the hero for WNE with two points (a goal and an assist) in regular time and the shootout-winning goal.
• Mabel Gerard and Mischa Palmitesso scored the other two WNE regular-time goals.
• Three different Endicott skaters scored, with Ava Schmidt collecting two points for the Gulls.
• Rachael Irving led the goalies with 45 saves versus 48 shots for a .938 save percentage.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will travel to Canton, Massachusetts, for another showdown with the Colonels of Curry College on Friday, February 13, 2026, at 7:30 PM.