Four Unanswered Goals Pushes Wentworth Past Men’s Ice Hockey

EVERETT, Mass. (February 8, 2022) – The Western New England men's ice hockey took sought out an offensive battle tonight with the Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards, falling 9-5 behind four unanswered goals in the third period. 

Records:

• Western New England: 4-15-2 (3-13-1 CCC)
• Wentworth Institute: 5-14-2 (4-12-1 CCC)

How it Happened:

Things did not open for the Golden Bears as they had hoped for after beating Wentworth earlier this season in overtime at Wentworth and in regulations time at home at the Olympia Ice Center. Wentworth started with an early tally just 1:11 into the game when Sean Brown scored a goal that got past WNE starter Colten Lancaster giving the Leopards a 1-0 lead. Jake McKenelley and Joey O'Leary picked up assists for Wentworth to give them the early goal. Western New England would fight back on the powerplay when Lliam Christaino struck for his 7^th goal of the season. Billy Hefferle and John D'Aniello picked up assists on the goal from Christiano to give the Golden Bears their first goal of the game and first on the power play. Wentworth would answer just 2:11 after the Golden Bears tally as Charlie Reid scored for the Leopards to make it a 2-1 game. Reid would get assists from Kevin Obssuth and Mitch McGinn to give Wentworth their lead right back. Western New England would be resilient and bounce back when Hefferle grabbed his second point of the game, first goal of the night to again even the score. D'Aniello and Finn Bamberry credited assists on Hefferle's third tally of the season. With 1:39 remaining in the first, Wentworth would again take the lead when Luke Jefferies found the back of the net, heading into the break with a score of 3-2 in favor of the home team. WNE came across with just six opening period shots, while Wentworth took 13. 

More scoring came in the second period, including at the 2:09 mark when Wentworth grabbed their first two goal lead of the night on a goal from George Weiner. Jake McKenelley would grab the only assist of the fourth Wentworth goal of the night. Scoring would lull as Western New England and Wentworth found their defensive game. The Golden Bears would grab a much-needed tally at the 14:55 marking of the second period on the powerplay again as Hefferle grabbed his second of the night on assists from Kyle Knight and Shane Miller to get WNE within one goal, again. As they did all night long, Wentworth would answer and retook their two-goal lead again when Kevin Obssuth grabbed his third point of the night on his first goal of the game to give Wentworth a 5-3 lead heading into the locker rooms after 40 minutes of play. Wentworth took an additional 13 shots in the period while Western New England came away with nine in the period for a two-period total of 15 shots on goal. 

Western New England would fight back in the third period and climb out of their two-goal deficit, getting two goals in two minutes and 53 seconds to even the score. Sam Mitchell would grab Western New England's fourth tally of the night as Jordie Morgan, and Damien Dangueuger would pick up helpers on the goal. Another powerplay for the Golden Bears would find the back of the net as Knight picked up the goal from Hefferle and Miller to even the score at 5-5. Things would get out of hand for Western New England down the stretch as they saw the Leopards come away with the final four goals of the night. Mitch McGinn would score Wentworth's sixth goal, Joey O'Leary saw Wentoworth 7^th goal, an empty net tally from Matt Ernster would give the Leopards their eighth goal and Jake McKenelley wrapped up the night by potting Wentworth's ninth goal in a ten-minute onslaught that left the Golden Bears without a victory on Tuesday night. Wentworth would come up with the 9-5 win over Western New England, their first win over the Golden Bears this season. 

Inside the Crease:

• Billy Hefferle scored twice for WNE while also picking up two assists in a four-point night, the most on the Golden Bears in game this season. Hefferle was also 10-15 in the faceoff dot on the night. 
• Kyle Knight (1 G, 1 A) Shane Miller (2 A) and John D'Aniello (2 A) all had two-point nights in the loss. 
• WNE won 37-68 faceoffs and took just one penalty in the 60 minutes of play. WNE's powerplay connected for three goals on seven attempts. 
• Wentworth outshot the Golden Bears 40-26 in the contest. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England travels to Endicott College on Friday, February 11 at 7:00 pm. 
• Wentworth visits Salve Regina on the same date at 8:00 pm.