Golden Bears Grounded by Nichols, 4-1

DUDLEY, Mass. (January 28, 2022) – The Western New England women's ice hockey team fell in their first ever meeting with the Nichols College Bison from Levy Rink on Friday night by a final score of 4-1. 

Records:

• Western New England: 6-11-2 (4-8 CCC)
• Nichols College: 8-7-1 (5-6-1 CCC)

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears, who are looking to building off a split series with Salve Regina University from one week ago, scored the game's first goal on the evening. At the midway point of the period, goaltender Rieley Jessie-Gerelli made a save that led to transition for the Golden Bears and eventually a breakaway for Katie Cronin. Cronin was able to walk down the open sheet of ice and make a deke past the Bison goaltender, Victoria Bakapanos and lifted a forehand shot into the back of the net to give WNE the early 1-0 lead. Cronin would score her 6^th goal of the season, a mark that is second on the team. With 3:10 to play in the period, Cronin would get another grand opportunity towards goal, though Bakapanos would deny Cronin on this chance, keeping the Golden Bears at bay with their one goal in the first period. WNE would be outshot in the first period, as WNE would be able to come away with six shots on goal, while Nichols did come away with 15 shots in the first period, all saved by Jessie-Gerelli. 

In the second period, Western New England would begin on the penalty kill and the Bison would find their first goal of the game with their powerplay chance expiring. Mel McAleer would take a blistering wrist shot from just outside the left circle that would miss the net, though Isabella Portt would be right on the doorstep to knock in a rebound to even the score at one. Portt would credit her 7^th goal of the season, while McAleer would pick up her team lead 11^th assist of the season. Both teams would battle for positioning through the halfway point in the contest, WNE having shot four times on goal through the first 11 minutes of play, while Nichols College would take five shots through the mark. Western New England's best chance of the second period came with just over five minutes remaining when Cronin would take a shot that would get blocked by a Nichols defender, though Kelly Yorkey would follow up with a quick wrist shot that was saved by Bakapanos for Nichols. WNE would hold Nichols from shooting on goal for nearly seven minutes of game actions. The Bison would come around and tally their second goal of the game after Grace Wiggett picked up a loose puck in the corner. Wiggett would skate towards the goal and put a backhander on net that found its way through Jessie-Gerelli and into the net to give the Bison a 2-1 lead. At the end of the period, Nichols had the shot advantage 26-11. Western New England took the 22-16 edge in faceoffs through 40 minutes of play. 

The Golden Bears looked to break even at the start of the third period as Alyssa Murphy would take a shot on goal, though it would be denied by Nichols. Nichols College would generate chances in front of Jessie-Gerelli and would cash in on their third goal of the night when Grace Melanson scored her first goal in a Bison uniform to give Nichols the 3-1 lead. Melanson would be assisted by both Lauren Rokala and Kara Santoro. Late in the third period, Nichols would tally their final goal of the night, when Meghan McElaney would put a goal past Jessie-Gerelli to give Nichols the 4-1 lead, which is where the game would end. The Bison would take the first every meeting between the two teams. 

Inside the Crease:

• Western New England was outshot 39-19 on the night, while goaltender Rieley Jessie-Gerelli came away with 35 saves in the losing effort. 
• Katie Cronin would be the only Golden Bear to receive a point on the night, picking up an unassisted tally for WNE. 
• Western New England saw their 1-0 lead after the first period slip, surrendering four goals to the Bison, eventually falling by a final score of 4-1. 
• The Golden Bears would win the faceoff advantage, beating Nichols on 32/55 draws. 
• Alyssa Murphy took a season high 14 shots in the contest, putting four on goal. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Both teams will meet at the Olympia Ice Center on Sunday, January 30 for Hockey Fights Cancer Night at 7:30 pm.