Women’s Ice Hockey Drops CCC Contest to UNE

WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASS. (December 3, 2021) – The Western New England women's ice hockey team was bested in their home arena on Friday night by the visiting Nor'easters of the University of New England Friday night. Western New England's Alyssa Murphy scored the lone powerplay goal for the Golden Bears in the 3-1 loss. 

Records: 

• Western New England: 3-4-1 (1-4 CCC)
• University of New England: 3-6 (3-4 CCC)

How it Happened: 

The Nor'easters got the game started with a quick goal in the first four minutes of the game to jump out to an early 1-0 lead. McKenna Remillard used her speed to get past the Golden Bears defense and finished a shot on the backhand off assists from Grace Arsenault and Maeve Crehan to give UNE the 1-0 lead. Back and forth play would continue until the final horn sounded to the end first frame. Western New England saw the better of the first period of offensive zone time, take eight shots to UNE's four. 

Both teams picked up their offensive game in the second period as 27 shots between the two teams were fired on goal. The Golden Bears would seize advantage of a powerplay chance at the midway point of the second period when Allison Walker was able to win the faceoff back to Kelly Yorkey. Yorkey would shovel a pass over to Alyssa Murphy would was able to take a blistering shot that would go up and over the glove of UNE goaltender Delanie Cocoran and into the back of the net to even the score at one. Murphy tallies her fourth goal of the season for Western New England.  The Nor'easters would get the Golden Bears goal back with just 36 seconds left in the second period when Maeve Crehan tallied a goal to give UNE the 2-1 lead to end the second period. 

Western New England would surrender the third goal of the game to the Nor'easters three minutes into the third period as Avery Lutrzykowski would take a loose puck to goal and take a backhand shot that squeaked through Rieley Jessie-Gerelli and into the net to give UNE the 3-1 lead. Both teams would continue their offensive attack as the Golden Bears looked to come back from their two-goal deficit. Western New England would take 12 shots in the period, all taken in by Corcoran to preserve the win for the Nor'easters as they would defeat Western New England 3-1. 

Inside the Crease:

• Alyssa Murphy's lone tally would be her fourth of the season, which marks a team high for the Golden Bears women's ice hockey team. Yorkey picks up her fifth assist of the season, while Walker picks up her sixth. 
• WNE converted one of their two powerplay opportunities in the contest while the University of New England failed to score on their lone chance. 
• UNE outshot Western New England 36-32 in the 60 minutes of play, taking 34 of the last 66 shots in the contest. 
• WNE has dropped three consecutive CCC matches, while UNE breaks a three game CCC game losing streak. 

Up Next on the Schedule: 

• Both teams will meet again tomorrow (Saturday, December 4) at Harold Alfond Forum on the campus of the University of New England for a 4:00 pm puck drop.