Knight Tallies Twice in OT Loss at Anna Maria

PAXTON, Mass. (January 7, 2023) – The Western New England men's ice hockey team saw two goals from Kyle Knight in their return to the ice for the 2023 portion of their schedule, though fell short in overtime to the hosting AMCATs of Anna Maria College as AMC would get a goal just 35 seconds into the overtime frame to take the win from WNE. 
Records:

• Western New England: 5-6-2
• Anna Maria College: 6-8-1

How it Happened:

After dropping a 5-4 contest less than 24 hours ago, Anna Maria got on the board early in the contest, just 3:48 into the game when Nolan Shaw potted the puck into the back of the net to give the AMCATs the 1-0 lead. Guillaume Coulombe would assist on Shaw's fourth goal of the season to open the scoring on the night. Western New England would struggle to find their footing in the first 20 minutes taking just four shots on goal. Matt Dougherty would lead the way with two shots while GK Colten Lancaster would make 12 saves on 13 Anna Maria shots on goal in the opening frame to keep Western New England within striking distance. 

In the second period it would be all Golden Bears as WNE would find their footing quickly and rip off two goals in the middle of the second period to take a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. After the puck was moved around the boards and into the offensive end, Matt Dougherty would set up a pass to Kyle Knight who was able to take his space and fire the puck from the right-side circle and into the pack of the net to even the score at one. Knight picks up his sixth goal of the season while Dougherty grabs his seventh assist of the season to get the Golden Bears equal with the AMCATs. The Golden Bears would grab their second goal of the game just three minutes later after the Western New England defense forced a turnover in their defensive zone which led to transition hockey as Jason Diamond was able to lead a pass to Billy Hefferle, who saw open ice in front of him. Hefferle would take a shot from just inside the blue line that snuck between the pads of Anna Maria's GK Cole Johnston and trickled over the line to give Western New England a 2-1 lead. The Golden Bears would hold on to that lead after the second period horn would sound. WNE would collect 11 shots in the second period while Anna Maria was held to five. 
It took the AMCATs one minute and 20 seconds to get the game tying goal as the third period opened. Carter Anderson would beat Colten Lancaster after a pass from Michael Padgeon would find the tape of Anderson to even the score at two. Western New England would collect the next goal of the game, the second of the game from Kyle Knight as the Golden Bears would grab their second lead of the contest with 13 minutes remaining in the game. Matt Dougherty would collect his second assist of the game when Knight was able to take a shot that was sent just under the crossbar and into the net to give Western New England a 3-2 lead. 

Anna Maria would strike again to even the score with seven minutes to play in the third period as Matthew Byrne would find the back of the net to give the AMCATs their third goal of the game and tying the game for the second time. With shots on goal down the stretch, neither team could find the back of the net, sending the game into overtime. Western New England would participate in their second overtime game of the season, with their last coming in their last game against Suffolk. 
Anna Maria needed just 35 seconds to find the back of the net when Pearce Baker ripped a shot past Colten Lancaster to give the AMCATS the 4-3 win. 

Inside the Lines:

• Kyle Knight led the way for Western New England, scoring two goals in the win. Knight picks up his third multi-goal performance of his WNE career, with the last coming on January 26, 2022 against Suffolk University. 
• Matt Dougherty took three shots on goal while assisting on two goals for Western New England. 
• GK Colten Lancaster made 27 saves for WNE while surrendering four goals in the OT loss. 
• Western New England held the lead twice in the game before surrendering two straight goals to drop the contest in overtime. 
• Anna Maria had four different goal scorers in the win while GK Cole Johnston made 26 saves. 
• Anna Maria outshot WNE 31-29 in the game. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England hosts their first game of the New Year, welcoming Salve Regina University to the Olympia Ice Center on Friday, January 13 at 8:00 pm. 
• Anna Maria hosts Wesleyan University on Tuesday, January 10 at 5:40 pm.