Four Third Period Goals Doom Women’s Ice Hockey over Suffolk

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 14, 2022) – After taking down the Suffolk University Rams just over a month ago, the Western New England University women's ice hockey team saw the rolls reversed on Friday night, as the Rams took down the Golden Bears 4-0 off four third period tallies to push their way past WNE from the Olympia Ice Center. 

Records:

• Western New England: 5-8-2 (3-5 CCC)
• Suffolk University: 10-2 (5-1 CCC)

How it Happened:

Through the first period of play the Golden Bears and Rams were evenly matched with Western New England getting good chances at goal. Both Natalie Parker and Kelly Yorkey would be robbed of goals in the first period by goaltender Lily O'Neil for the Rams. On the flip side, Sierra Dennis would stop all 15 shots she would face for WNE in the first period with the score 0-0 after the first 20 minutes of play. 

The Rams, who were looking for their first goal in program history against the Golden Bears after being shutout in the first meeting between the two teams, took 20 shots on goal in the second period, all of which were taken in by Dennis to deny any scoring chances by the Rams. Western New England could only come up with four second period shots as the Rams would dominate much of the possession in the second period. 

Suffolk would finally break the scoreless tie in the third period when they would open up a strain of three goals in 2:45 at the midway point of the period to break the game open, Emily Bozzi would open the scoring for the Rams on assists from Julia Volpe and Leslie Steiner to give Suffolk the 1-0 lead. Just 1:24 after the Bozzi goal, Maddy Burton would tally for Suffolk on assists from Jesse Kennedy and Sam Molind to double to Rams lead to 2-0. The final tally would come 1:21 after the second tally when Payton Dockus scored for Suffolk to add to their lead. At the end of the period, Sofia Sciipoti would net the fourth and final goal for the Rams, on route to a 4-0 victory over Western New England, their first win over the Golden Bears in the program's history.

Inside the Crease:

• Sierra Dennis shined for the Golden Bears in the loss making 55 total saves, a number that ties teammate Rieley Jessie-Gerelli for the most all time in a single game for the program. Dennis made a season high 20 saves in both the second and third periods. 
• Suffolk University took the lone penalty of the game coming in the third period. WNE would be unsuccessful on their lone powerplay attempt. 
• The Golden Bears won 23 faceoffs in the contest, as Julia Roman led WNE winning 7-15 draws. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Both WNE and Suffolk will meet tomorrow, January 15 at 4:50 pm from Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Rink. This will be the final meeting between the two teams in the regular season.