SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 4, 2026) – Three members of the Western New England women's ice hockey team have been named to the Conference of New England (CNE) All-Conference First Team, as announced by the conference office this morning. Additionally, the Golden Bears have selected Zoe Galanoudis as the CNE Community Service Team representative.  

As a forward, Western New England's Jenna Lynch earns honors for the first time in her career on the All-Conference First Team. A native of Brookline, New Hampshire, Lynch led the conference and the team with 30 points in the regular season, playing in 23 games during the season. Lynch picked up career-highs with 11 goals and 19 assists during the regular season, taking 100 shots. Three of Lynch's 11 regular-season goals came as game-winners, all in CNE play. On the defensive side of the puck, Lynch blocked 60 shots during the regular season and went 4/5 overall in the faceoff circle. The WNE junior scored a goal in Western New England's most recent game, the CNE Semifinals, helping lead the Golden Bears to the second CNE Championship appearance in program history. Lynch's goal last Saturday evening extended her point streak, which currently sits at 12 straight games. Lynch is currently 15^th in the nation in assists per game (0.79), and 17^th in points per game (1.29). 

After being named CNE Rookie of the Year and to the All-Conference Second Team, WNE's Mabel Gerard bumps to the All-Conference First Team this season, having produced 15 goals and 13 assists in the regular season, good for 28 total points. Gerard netted three game-winners during the regular season, two coming in Conference of New England action. The Halifax, Nova Scotia, native scored a hat trick against Johnson & Wales University and totaled five goals and two assists against the Wildcats over four games played this season. Gerard led the Golden Bears with 289 faceoff wins in the regular season and blocked 16 total shots. In the CNE Semifinal round, Gerard scored two goals, added 20 faceoff wins, and had the game-winning goal in the victory, leading Western New England to a 4-1 victory over Johnson & Wales to get the Blue and Gold into the CNE Championship Game. Through 26 games on the year, Gerard has scored 17 goals and assisted on 13 others, good for 30 total points. Gerard ranks among the top players in NCAA Division III in faceoff wins (309 - 14^th), game-winning goals (4 - 16^th), goals per game (0.65 – 19^th), and power play goals (9 – 3^rd). 

On defense, Western New England's Michaela Birmingham earns honors for the first time in her career, being recognized on the All-Conference First Team. Birmingham has anchored the blue line for the Golden Bears this season, while contributing heavily on offense. The sophomore has seven goals, including three game-winners, two in conference play, and has 18 assists, seven over her last four games played. Birmingham has taken 139 shots this season for Western New England, leading the team. Defensively, Birmingham is third on the team with 32 blocked shots. Nationally, the Enfield, Connecticut, native ranks 26^th in assists per game (0.69), 60^th in points per game (0.96), and 26^th in power play goals (4). Two of Birmingham's seven goals have been overtime winners, including one in CNE play. 

Western New England senior Zoe Galanoudis has been named to the CNE Community Service Team, one of the newest postseason awards put forth by the Conference of New England, which honors one student-athlete per conference institution who demonstrates a commitment to their community. A marketing major at Western New England, Galanoudis has held multiple internships during her time at WNE that have made an impact on multiple different organizations. On the ice, Galanoudis has held the role of team captain for the Golden Bears this season, playing in all 26 games, scoring four goals, and adding two assists. 

The Western New England women's ice hockey team, ranked second in the CNE Tournament, travels to No. 1 Endicott College for the CNE Championship Game on Saturday, March 7, at 3:00 PM.