Women’s Ice Hockey Picks Up Key CCC Win over Salve Regina

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (January 21, 2022) – The Western New England University women's ice hockey team won their first game of the 2022 schedule, taking down the Salve Regina University Seahawks by a final score of 2-0 from St. George's Rink on Friday night. Rieley Jessie-Gerelli came away with the 27 save shutout while Katie Cronin and Alyssa Murphy lit the lamp for the Golden Bears in the win. 

Records:

• Western New England: 6-9-2 (4-6 CCC)
• Salve Regina University: 2-9-1 (1-5-1 CCC)

How it Happened:

In a game that lasted just under two hours, both teams came out skating very quickly thorugh the first ten minutes of the contest but were unsuccessful at finding the back of the net. Both the Golden Bears and Seahawks had an even split in shot on goal through the first chunk of the period before Salve Regina started to make a run, shooting ten times in the first 20 minutes. Rieley Jessie-Gerelli, who made her first start of the 2022 schedule, came up with all ten saves in the period. Western New England would break through for the game's first goal when Abby Hay was able to win a board battle against the Seahawks and shovel the puck down the right side boards to teammate Katie Cronin. Cronin was able to curl off the boards and take a shot that went just under the cross bar and into the net, past the blocker of Seahawks goaltender Madison Jalbert, to give Western New England the 1-0 lead. WNE would shoot just five times in the period but took the 1-0 lead heading into the break. 

Western New England and Salve Regina would come out in the second period looking for the next goal of the game. Two penalties were taken in the second period, both on the Seahawks as they were called for holding early in the frame and hooking just over the midway point into the contest, though Western New England would be unsuccessful on the powerplay in the second period, going 0-2. WNE did collect ten shots on goal in the period, while Salve managed just seven, though neither team was able to find the back of the net in the second.

Jillian Eagan would take a checking minor just 2:19 into the third period to put WNE on their fourth advantage of the contest. The Golden Bears were able to convert to pick up their second goal of the game when Sydney Conte served up a pass to Alyssa Murphy, who was able to cash home WNE's second goal of the game, doubling their lead to give them a 2-0 lead. 

Down the stretch, Jessie-Gerelli and the backline of defense for WNE made multiple blocks and saves to prevent the Seahawks from getting back into the contest. Salve would shoot ten more times in the third period, though every shot Jessie-Gerelli faced on the night was taken in and covered, picking up a 27 save shutout in the end, giving the Golden Bears a 2-0 victory. 

Inside the Crease:

• Rieley Jessie-Gerelli came away with her third shutout of the season, and second consecutive, picking up 27 saves in the win. 
• Alyssa Murphy added her team best 9^th goal of the season, picking up the second goal of the game. Murphy is tied for second on the team with ten total points. 
• Western New England was 1-4 on the powerplay and 4-4 on the penalty kill on the night. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Both teams will meet at the Olympia Ice Center on Saturday, January 22 at 7:30 pm.