Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 8, 2026) – The Golden Bears welcomed the Hawks to Springfield for their third meeting in program history, with both teams having a win under their belts in the matchup, and this one did not disappoint. It was a heavyweight fight with both sides going on runs and Hartford leading 8-6 at halftime thanks to a Gavin Pelletier hat trick. However, Jacob Roy's fourth-quarter hat trick led WNE back from down four goals to send the game to overtime, where Logan Jenkins won the game for WNE on his first shot attempt. WNE won 14-13.

Records:
Western New England: 8-5 (5-0)
University of Hartford: 7-4 (4-1)

How it Happened:
First Quarter:

• The opening quarter set the tone for the entire matchup between WNE and Hartford. The Golden Bears started with two quick goals scored by Logan Jenkins and Josh Gagnon. Thomas Labbe helped with the second goal.
• The Hawks immediately answered with two. Colin Reilly and Gavin Pelletier evened the score at two, with Reilly's goal being assisted by Ian Reynolds. However, WNE would hit back with a Jacob Roy goal assisted by Max Rudgers. Then, Trent Beggs scored his first goal of the season off an assist from Shaun Wright to tie the game at three.
• With 1:41 left in the opening quarter, Jenkins scored his second goal of the game, and WNE led 4-3 after the first. WNE had a major advantage in shots (13-6) and shots on goal (8-5) after the first quarter. However, Hartford won the majority of the faceoff wins (5-3).

Second Quarter:

• WNE regained the two-goal lead 1:21 into the third thanks to a Jacob Roy goal. However, three goals in under two minutes from the Hawks earned them the 6-5 lead early in the second quarter. Aidan Ezra was responsible for the first and third goals, while Nick Ugolini scored the middle goal.
• WNE tied the game at six thanks to a Max Rudgers goal assisted by Kevin Morina, but that did not stop the Hawk momentum, merely stalled it. Gavin Pelletier scored twice and extended the Hawk lead to 8-6, which is how the score would stay until halftime.
• Hartford turned the game on its head in the second quarter by having nine shots on goal, compared to WNE's two. Oddly enough, even though Hartford had all the momentum in the second, WNE led in faceoff wins (5-3). WNE had double the turnovers in the second, which helped Hartford.

Third Quarter:

• WNE looked like they would close the gap with Hartford in the third, and after a Shaun Wright goal, assisted by Colin Reilly, they started to. Thomas Labbe scored off a pass from Jacob Roy. Then, Josh Gagnon found the netting with a shot almost nine minutes into the second half.
• Hartford would end the quarter with fire, though. Shaun Wright scored a man-up goal with 1:19 left in the third. Then, Nick Ugolini scored a second goal of the evening with twenty-two seconds left to extend the lead back to three.
• Hartford led 11-8 going into the final quarter of the contest. Despite the Hawks extending their lead in the third, the stats looked relatively similar, but once again, the Hawks won the faceoff battle and doubled the amount of faceoffs won by WNE (4-2).

Fourth Quarter:

• The fourth began with the Hawks looking like they would run away with the game. Maxton McPhee scored his fourth goal of the season with 11:21 left in the game. WNE showed fight with a Thomas Labbe goal and a Jacob Roy goal. They trailed 12-10 with 7:14 left and had momentum.
• That is when Gavin Pelletier scored his fourth goal of the evening off a pass from Nick Forgione. That quieted the crowd with 6:04 left in the game. However, Logan Jenkins would get a goal back with 4:53 left, and then assisted with Jacob Roy's goal with 2:48 left, and WNE had life.
• 33 seconds later, Roy tied the game, and WNE's comeback bid was truly alive. The game was tied 13-13, and a save from Jeffrey Wojtowicz led the game to overtime. The fourth quarter saw WNE take back the lead in some of the stat categories. They had more shots (11-9), shots on goal (7-5), and saves (4-3).

Overtime:

• David Noel would win the crucial final faceoff of the game for WNE. After the offense worked the ball around, Logan Jenkins found the ball and worked to the left side of the net. Jenkins faked a move and got separation from the defender before firing a quick shot past the goalie, and before everyone knew it, he was running down the field, celebrating a four-goal fourth-quarter comeback with his teammates. The Golden Bears won 14-13.
• The final stats saw WNE lead in shots (41-34), saves (11-10), less turnovers (15-17), and ground balls (37-34).

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears defeated the Hawks 14-13 in overtime on Wednesday evening.
• Logan Jenkins' fourth goal of the game won it for WNE in overtime. Jenkins added an assist as well to total five points.
• Jacob Roy led WNE with six points, five goals, and one assist.
• David Noel was all over the place for WNE on Wednesday, causing four turnovers, scooping seven ground balls, taking two shots on goal, and winning two of the three faceoffs he took for WNE, including the one in overtime.
• Jeffrey Wojtowicz made 11 saves for WNE in the win.
• Gavin Pelletier led the Hawks with four points, all of them goals.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The men's lacrosse squad will take a trip to Dudley, Massachusetts, and Vendetti Field for their conference contest with the Nichols College Bison at 1:00 PM.