SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 9, 2026) – The Western New England women's ice hockey and women's lacrosse teams have seen their starting goalkeepers earn Golden Bear Athlete of the Week honors this week after impressive performances between the pipes in their respective games last week. 

Women's Ice Hockey's Rachael Irving stood tall between the pipes for the Golden Bears, coming away with 55 saves in the Conference of New England Championship Game last weekend at Endicott. The Golden Bears fell by a 1-0 final in overtime, but saw Irving keep the squad in the game with her career-high in saves. Irving dotted a .982 save percentage for the game, playing in all 66:19 of the contest. Irving finishes the 2025-26 season with a 17-7-1 record overall, making 755 saves while dotting a 1.75 GAA and a .945 save percentage. 

Women's Lacrosse's Emily Picolla led the Golden Bears to their first win of the 2026 spring campaign, a 12-8 win on home turf over Keene State. Picolla made 16 saves between the pipes in the victory while scooping four ground balls and having a .667 save percentage for the game. The WNE junior also made 16 saves in a midweek contest at Springfield College, totaling 32 saves in a two-game week. Picolla and the Golden Bears travel south for a pair of games in Hilton Head, South Carolina, taking on both Delaware Valley University (March 10) and Husson University (March 12).