SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 18, 2026) – The Golden Bears traveled down the road to Alden Street for their annual rivalry matchup with Springfield College. The Golden Bears would get out to a quick start, but Springfield would score six goals in a row to end the first half and hold a 7-2 lead that would be doubled in the second half to 14-4 as the final score, with the Pride taking the victory for the third consecutive time in the 26-game history of this matchup.

Records:
Western New England: 2-5 (0-0)
Springfield College: 5-3 (0-0)

How it Happened:
First Quarter:

• The Golden Bears opened the game with a quick Logan Proctor goal 58 seconds in. Logan Jenkins was credited with the goal. However, the Pride would answer with a Jake Degnan goal assisted by Brady Soldo. The score was tied 1-1.
• Logan Jenkins would find Josh Gagnon with just under ten minutes left in the first to give WNE a 2-1 lead. Springfield would answer again with just under five minutes left in the first thanks to Charlie Vath. Then, a quick Michael Kuziak goal would give Springfield their first lead of the game.
• A final second goal from Ryan Berkiel would end the first quarter, and Springfield held a 4-2 lead. The first quarter stats saw WNE trail in shots (11-6), shots on goal (5-4), and saves (2-1). WNE had more faceoff wins (4-2) and ground balls (11-6).

Second Quarter:

• The Pride would hold WNE scoreless in the second quarter. They would grab three goals to take a 7-2 lead into halftime. Rory Scanlon scored the first goal to extend their lead to 5-2.
• Then, back-to-back Springfield goals would put the lead at 7-2 with 3:04 left in the second quarter. Matt Webb and Jake Degnan had the goals, with Jake Shay being credited for the assist on the Degnan goal.
• At the end of the first half, the second quarter stats saw Springfield leading in shots (10-7), shots on goal (5-3), saves (3-2), and faceoff wins (2-1). WNE had more ground balls (9-8).

Third Quarter:

• WNE started the third with the opening goal to cut the deficit to four. Thomas Labbe found Jacob Roy, who netted the goal. Springfield answered with a pair of goals in thirty seconds to extend their lead to six.
• Reece Whitney and Brady Soldo had those goals, assisted by Owen Dawson and Jake Degnan, respectively. Matt Webb would then score on the man-up opportunity off an assist from Jake Degnan, and Ryan Berkiel would add a fourth of the quarter unassisted. Springfield's lead was 11-3.
• Third-quarter stats were slightly in favor of Springfield despite the 4-1 score difference. Shots were tied 9-9, but shots on goal favored Springfield (6-4), and saves favored Springfield (3-2). However, WNE led in ground balls (7-6) and faceoff wins (5-1).

Fourth Quarter:

• The Pride extended their lead early in the fourth, thanks to a Chuck Weitzel unassisted goal 59 seconds into the quarter. Carter Shaw added another for them as well. Dylan Nardone would get a goal back for WNE off Logan Proctor's assist. The score was 13-4, Springfield.
• Rory Scanlon would end the contest with a goal with 2:18 left, and that would move the lead to 14-4. That is where it would stay as the game ended.
• The final stats saw a closer game than the scoreline showed. Springfield had more shots, 36-33, shots on goal, 21-15, saves, 11-7, and less turnovers, 14-23. WNE had more ground balls, 40-28, and faceoff wins, 13-6.

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears fell to the Pride 14-4.
• WNE had four separate goal scorers for their four goals.
• Logan Proctor and Logan Jenkins each had two points in the loss.
• Chris Catuosco led WNE by winning 13 of 19 faceoffs.
• Jake Degnan led Springfield with four points (2 goals and 2 assists) in the win.
• Four other members of Springfield had 2+ points in their victory.
• Joseph Grenier made 11 saves on 15 shots on goal to earn the win.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will play their third game in a row in Springfield, MA, on Saturday, 3/21/26, at 1:00 PM as they host the United States Merchant Marine Academy.