Three Goal Third Period Gives Pilgrims 5-2 Win over Women’s Ice Hockey

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 5, 2022) – After playing on home ice for the first time in the new year, the Western New England women's ice hockey team was defeated by the Pilgrims of New England College after the Grims scored three goals in the third period and the final four goals of the game to squeeze out a win over the Golden Bears on Wednesday evening. 

Records:

• Western New England: 5-7-1 
• New England College: 3-7

How it Happened: 

The Golden Bears got off to a tremendous start, taking double digit shots within the first ten minutes of the game after struggling to do so in their past two games on the 2022 schedule. The Golden Bears were awarded with the games' first powerplay when Sidney Capolino was whistled for tripping, giving WNE their first edge of the game. On the powerplay, Western New England would capitalize for the game's first goal when Erin McGlynn found Julia Roman who then found the stick of Kelly Yorkey who netted her third goal of the season and first since October 30 to give WNE the early 1-0 lead. WNE's dominance of the first period would show, outshooting New England College 18-9 through the first frame. Goaltender Sierra Dennis came away with all nine saves to open the first 20 minutes of play. 

New England College would answer with a goal just 2:52 into the second period of play to knot the score at one. Jaelyn Kelleher scored the Grims first goal of the night off an assist from Meaghan McCamish to even the score. Western New England would find their skating game at the midway point of the second period and would retake the lead when Alexa Paoli would go bar south to give WNE the 2-1 lead. After the Grims were forced with a turnover, Roman would send the puck up to McGlynn who found Paoli streaking down the left wing. Paoli would take a shot that would go up and over the glove of Grims goaltender Sean D'urso and into the back of the net to push the Golden Bears lead back to one. Late in the third period New England College would cash in on a shot from just outside the circle when Emily Lenzen let a wrist shot go and found goal to even the score heading into the third period. 

Three goals, one at the beginning, one at the midway point, and one at the end of the period, gave New England College a big three goal period to move ahead of the Golden Bears. Emily Lenzen would cash in for her second of her second goal of the game just 1:49 into the second period to give NEC their first lead of the game. Kelly Cassandra would tally the final two for New England College to put the Pilgrims past Western New England by a final score of 5-2. 

Inside the Crease:

• After taking the game's first 31 of 46 shots through the first two periods, the Golden Bears were outshot 11-9 in the game, though WNE put together a season best 40 shots on goal in the losing effort, breaking their previous team record of 39 (October 30). 
• Both Erin McGlynn and Julia Roman tallied two assists each on the night off goals from both Kelly Yorkey and Alexa Paoli. 
• WNE saw just two, Abby Hay and Paoli square up in the faceoff circle, winning 24/48 faceoffs from NEC. 
• The Golden Bears drop a home contest for the first time in over a month and have dropped their last three overall. 

Up Next on the Schedule: 

• Western New England stays in non-conference action when they travel to Johnson & Wales University (R.I.) on Tuesday, January 12 at 7:00 pm from the New England Sports Village.
• NEC travels to No. 5 Elmira College on Friday, January 7 for a 6:00 pm puck drop.