Men’s Ice Hockey Falls in Day One of Western Mass Invitational

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 28, 2022) – The Western New England men's ice hockey team gave up two shorthanded tallies on their way to a 5-2 loss in the opening game of the 2022-2023 season to the Ravens of Franklin Pierce University. 

Records:

• Western New England: 0-1
• Franklin Pierce: 1-0

How it Happened:

Western New England and Franklin Pierce would exchange back and forth shots to begin the opening five minutes of the game. GK Colten Lancaster made the start for WNE, making his second straight opening day start. Lancaster would make a hand full of saves to keep the Ravens off the board while FPU goalkeeper Kyle Martin stood tall between the pipes, as well. Devin Rohrich would pick up the first goal of the game for the Ravens after Jackson Dobek and Decian House would pick up assists on the Ravens first goal of the season. Neither team committed a penalty in the opening 20 minutes as Western New England won the shot advantage 12-11. 

As they did in the first period, Franklin Pierce would find the back of the net early in the second period. On a shorthanded opportunity, Cody Rumsey would be able to dump the puck into the back of the net on an assist from Trevor Lawler to give the Ravens a 2-0 lead. Western New England would find their offensive game and would get their best opportunity with just under eight minutes to play in the period after FPU's Wyatt De Lise would close his hand on the puck in the crease, causing a penalty shot for WNE. Dalton Garcia would skate the puck in on his backhand and hit the crossbar with the shot, keeping WNE off the scoreboard. Late in the second period, Colby Audette would collect his first goal with Western New England after Demitrios Stefanou and Dalton Garcia would collect their first points of the night, getting WNE back within one goal to end the period. WNE would outshoot FPU 13-9 in the second period of play. 

FPU scored their third goal of the game in the early goings of the period, again, when Conor Foley cashed in on a shorthanded bid to give Franklin Pierce a 3-1 lead. Foley collected his first goal of the game on an unassisted tally. On the very same penalty, WNE would score their second of the game to again get back within one of the tie. John D'Aniello would bump a pass to Kyle Knight who threw a cross-crease pass to Billy Hefferle, who then loaded up for a one-time shot that found the five-hole of Kyle Martin and into the net to give WNE goal number two of the night. WNE's one goal deficit would last for just over five minutes before FPU would grab their next goal of the game when Trevor Lawler beat Colten Lancaster, giving FPU a 4-2 lead. Western New England would fail to cash in on another chance as FPU's Conor Foley would add his second goal of the game in the late stages to give the Ravens a 5-2 lead, a lead which the Ravens would hold for the remainder of the contest, defeating Western New England 5-2. 

Inside the Crease:

• Western New England outshot Franklin Pierce 36-27 in the contest. 
• WNE went 1/5 on the powerplay while FPU failed to cash in on the PP, though scored two shorthanded goals. 
• GK Colten Lancaster made 22 saves in the losing effort. Demitrios Stefanou won 21/32 faceoffs and picked up an assist on the night. 
• Colby Audette picked up his first career goal with Western New England. 
• Kyle Knight led the Golden Bears with six shots on goal. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England will meet Johnson and Wales University on Saturday, October 29 at 4:35 pm for the consolation game of the Western Mass. Invitational. That game will be played at Amelia Park Ice Arena in Westfield, Mass. 
• FPU meets Westfield State University in the championship game at 7:35 on the same date.