Women’s Ice Hockey Ties Worcester State, 1-1

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 21, 2023) – The Western New England women's ice hockey team would score the first goal of the game before giving up a late goal to the visiting Lancers of Worcester State University from the Olympia Ice Center on Saturday night, sending the game to a draw, 1-1. 

Records:

• Western New England: 11-4-3
• Worcester State: 10-6-1

How it Happened:

Scoring was scarce in the contest, with neither team finding the back of the net in the opening 20 minutes of the game. Both teams would exchange chances at the midway point of the period, though both Kelsey Czerniawski and Rieley Jessie-Gerelli would come away with big saves to keep the game level. Worcester State would take it to WNE in the shots department in the first period, leading 13-5. 

Western New England would break the scoring drought in the game with 40 seconds to play in the second period when Maddie Pope found the back of the net on an assist from Maggie Holt to give Western New England the 1-0 lead. Pope would find the loose puck and skate it around the net before taking a laser wrist shot that beat the glove of Czerniawski. Western New England would outshoot Worcester State 14-7 in the period, leaving the third period to decide the contest. 

Both teams had a chance on the powerplay in the third period, with Worcester State getting an early chance to capitalize, while Western New England would get a chance just five minutes later, though neither team could find the back of the net on their chances. Worcester State would come away with one final chance in the third period and with two seconds to play, the Lancers would find the back of the net as Emily Pavoni would beat Jessie-Gerelli to send the game into overtime. 

Worcester State would get the best chance in the extra session, getting a powerplay chance, though they would be unsuccessful on the chance and Western New England would draw on Saturday night with the Lancers by a final score of 1-1. 

Inside the Crease:

• Worcester State's goal with 2.1 seconds remaining would be a powerplay goal, sending the game into the extra session. 
• WSU outshot WNE 34-28 on the night. 
• Maddie Pope scored the lone goal for WNE, picking up her team leading 13^th goal of the season. 
• Rieley Jessie-Gerelli made 33 saves on 34 shots faced. 
• Worcester State improves to 1-0-2 against WNE all-time. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE battles Suffolk University for a home and home series beginning at the Olympia Ice Center on Friday, January 27. 
• WSU hosts Assumption University on January 28 at 3:20 pm.