Golden Bears Move Into Stovepipe Championship Game after 3-2 Win over SNHU

HOOKSET, N.H. (November 27, 2021) – The Western New England University men's ice hockey team will play in the championship game tomorrow after their upset win over the hosting Southern New Hampshire University Penmen in the Stovepipe Tournament on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Bears were led by Lliam Christiano, who scored two goals while Jordie Morgan picked up the game winner in a 3-2 win for Western New England. 

Records: 

• Western New England: 4-4
• Southern New Hampshire University: 6-2

How it Happened: 

In a penalty filled 60 minutes, the Golden Bears were able to take advantage of a goal in the first period with under a minute left to play when Lliam Christiano was able to rip a shot past goalkeeper Adam Mercer to give Western New England the 1-0 lead. After John D'Aniello was able to find Jordan Giacomin, Giacomin found Christiano on the right-side circle and was able to send a wrist shot past the glove of Mercer to put the Golden Bears on top. Western New England would hold their 1-0 lead after the first 20 minutes of play. Western New England goalkeeper Anthony Aureliano, who is making his first start of the season, came up with all 12 saves in the period, while Western New England took 11 shots on goal. 

Three additional penalties in the second period would be registered in the scoresheet before the next goal occurred, which came of the stick of Jack Gray for Southern New Hampshire University to even the score at one. Gray was able to step away on a shorthanded breakaway to even the score at one. Southern New Hampshire continued to fire shots at Aureliano who made 14 saves in the second period to keep the Golden Bears in the game. 

Western New England would score the first even strength goal of the contest in the third period when Christiano would score his second of the game to give WNE their one goal lead back. Christiano was able to find the puck along the offensive zone boards and take the puck right to goal and send a backhand up and over the glove hand of Mercer and into the net to give WNE their second goal of the game.  Just a minute and a half later, Western New England would extend their lead when Jordie Morgan was able to capitalize on a tally. Shane Miller was able to make a stretch pass to Morgan who then moved the puck towards goal and took a backhand shot that was deflected and found its way to the back of the net to give WNE the 3-1 lead. Late in the contest George Thurston found the back of the goal for SNHU to put the deficit to 3-2 with 1:10 to play, though some undisciplined play from the Penmen landed Matt Amante in the box with one minute to play to put Western New England on a brief powerplay before the final horn sounded to give the Golden Bears the 3-2 win to move into the Stovepipe championship game. 

Inside the Crease: 

• The Golden Bears were outshot 44-32 in the contest, though GK Anthony Aureliano made 42 saves in his Western New England debut, picking up his first collegiate win. 
• Lliam Christiano tallied two goals, giving him four goals on the season, tied for a team high. Chrisitano also has six points this season, which is tied for third on the team. 
• Shane Miller picked up a helper in the contest marking his 11^th assist this season. Miller is currently riding a five-game point streak. 
• Both Western New England and Southern New Hampshire tallied a powerplay goal each in the contest. SNHU was whistled for eight infractions for 24 penalty minutes while WNE took four infractions for eight minutes of PP time for the Penmen. 
• Western New England won 48 faceoffs on 83 draws in the contest. Billy Hefferle won 21 of 31 draws, leading the way for the Golden Bears. 

Up Next:

• Both teams await their next opponent between Fitchburg State University and Albertus Magnus College. SNHU will play at 1:40 PM against the loser of FSU and Albertus Magnus, while Western New England will play at 4:50 pm against the winner of the aforementioned game.