Pope Nets Two in WNE's 4-0 Shutout Win Over New England College

Henniker, N.H. (January 10, 2023) - The Golden Bears got back to action after their holiday break with a game against the Pilgrims of New England College. After unfortunately closing out the first semester of play with a loss to Suffolk, the Golden Bears looked to get back in the win column to start 2023.

Records:

• Western New England: 8-3-2 (4-3-2)
• New England College: 4-10-1 (1-6-1)

How it Happened:

The game started with a Maggie Holt faceoff win. A minute and a half into the game, WNE was called for a penalty, and NEC went on the power play. NEC took two shots during the power play, but Rieley Jessie-Gerelli made both saves. WNE also got a shot on net playing short-handed, but NEC's goalie, Hannah Podvey, was there to make the save. NEC used the momentum from the power play to get more shots off, but Jessie-Gerelli saved each one. On the other end of the ice, Podvey made save after save. As time wound down in the period, both teams traded possession and got shots on target, but neither goalie blinked. NEC's Meadow Gilchrist almost had the opening goal in the 15th minute of play, but it rang off the pipe. Western New England would counter, and with 3:48 left in the opening period, they struck the back of the net. After Alyssa Murphy sent the puck up the ice off the glass, Maggie Holt skated the puck into the Pilgrims' zone and sent a pass back to Alexa Paoli. Paoli sent a wrist shot toward the net, and Maddie Pope deflected it into the back of the net. WNE had the lead 1-0. The period ended soon after. The score was 1-0 WNE, with Jessie-Gerelli making 18 saves and Podvey making 10. 

The second period started with Emily Lenzen winning the faceoff for the Pilgrims. WNE would waste no time doubling their lead. 3:45 into the period, the puck bounced around from Golden Bear to Golden Bear. Paoli got a shot on net that Podvey saved; however, it went off a pad and right to Yorkey, who sent the puck right back at Podvey and into the back of the net. The Golden Bears now led 2-0 early in the second period. WNE had found its footing and started getting multiple shots on Podvey simultaneously. NEC also sent some at Jessie-Gerelli, but the Golden Bear defense was doing a good job holding the Pilgrims to few chances. The time kept ticking off the clock, and WNE was not letting their two-goal lead slip. With 5:52 left in the second, WNE tacked on one more goal. Holt sent a puck down the boards from the right side of the ice to the left. Murphy picked it up and sent it back to Maddie Pope. Pope skated in front of net and sent a quick wrist shot past Podvey. The Golden Bears had a 3-0 lead. With less than two minutes left in the period, WNE went on the power play. The Golden Bears got three shots on Podvey during that time. All of which were saved by Podvey. Jessie-Gerelli also had to make a save during the power play. The second period ended with the Golden Bears up 3-0. Jessie-Gerelli made 11 saves in the second period compared to the 21 saves made by Podvey. 

Emily Lenzen took the faceoff win to start the third period. The NEC penalty then timed out soon after the beginning of the period. Both teams had opportunities mounting up throughout the beginning of the third; however, the Pilgrims kept pushing for their first goal of the game. Rieley Jessie-Gerelli kept up the good work and kept the Pilgrims out of the net. With 7:20 played in the third period, WNE went back on the power play for the second time of the night. After a save from Podvey, the Golden Bears would notch their fourth goal of the game. After Maddie Tucker got the puck down behind the net to Holt, Holt took time and slid a pass to Alyssa Murphy, who buried the puck in the back of the net. The Golden Bears were running away with the game 4-0. The game continued, and with 6:32 left, WNE had their third chance on the power play. Three shots got to Podvey in net, and three were saved during the power play. After a penalty on WNE in the final minute of play, the game ended with a final score of 4-0, with WNE as the victors. Jessie-Gerelli got another shutout victory for the Golden Bears and made 37 saves en route to that shutout. Podvey faced 50 shots and made 46 saves.

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears and Pilgrims met in Henniker, N.H., for a late afternoon battle.
• Maddie Pope started the scoring in the first period with a deflection goal off a wrist shot from Alexa Paoli and Maggie Holt's assist.
• Alex Paoli got goal number two for the Golden Bears early in the second period. Allison Walker and Alexa Paoli were credited with the assists.
• Maddie Pope got her second goal of the night to put the Golden Bears up 3-0. Holt and Alyssa Murphy assisted in the play.
• Finally, Alyssa Murphy got a power play goal assisted by Holt and Tucker. That put the Golden Bears up 4-0.
• WNE won 4-0, with Rieley Jessi-Gerelli earning the team's fourth shutout.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will return to action on Friday, January 13, at 7:30 pm. The team heads out to Newport, R.I., for a clash with Salve Regina.
• The Pilgrims will continue their season by heading to Johnson and Wales for a conference showdown. That game will be on Friday, January 13, at 7:00 pm.