Murphy Tallies Three Points as Golden Bears Pick Up Big CCC Win

West Springfield, Mass. (February 10, 2023) - The Golden Bears played host to the Nichols College Bison in a late-season CCC matchup. After taking the previous two matchups against the Bison, Coach Katie Zimmerman and the Golden Bears looked to grab their second regular season sweep of the year. Murphy's three points would be enough to help the Golden Bears skate clear of the Bison. 

Records:

• Western New England: 13-7-3 (8-6-2)
• Nichols College: 5-16-1 (3-12-0)

How it Happened:

The first period started with a Grace Wiggett faceoff win for the Bison. The first save would also be tallied by the Bison when goaltender Victoria Bakopanos turned away Julia Roman. The next shot for the Golden Bears would get them on the board, though. After picking it up on the boards, Alyssa Murphy sent the puck out to Maddy Tucker on the blue line. Tucker then sent it across to Brie Dube. Dube sent a wrist shot at net, and it bounced around before finding its way into the back of the net. The Golden Bears now led 1-0 just two minutes and 20 seconds into the game. With 7:21 left in the first period, the Bison went on the power play. Rieley Jessie-Gerelli made three saves and held the Bison off to keep the Golden Bears in the lead 1-0. Both sides would keep battling for the game's second goal, but neither would find the back of the net for the rest of the period. After one period, the Golden Bears still held a one-goal advantage. Jessie-Gerelli made 17 saves, and Bakopanos made 4.

Period two started differently, with Maggie Holt getting the faceoff win this time. Both teams struggled to start some offense, but then shots got on net. Then, with a little over eight minutes played in the second period, Dube would poke the puck away from a Nichols skater in the WNE defensive zone. Maggie Holt picked up the puck and, after skating over mid-ice, floated the puck toward Bakopanos. The puck floated right past the goalie and into the back of the net. That goal was Holt's fourth of the season and helped double the Golden Bears' lead halfway through the second period. However, it would take only a short time for the Golden Bears to tack on another goal. Two minutes and 29 seconds later, Alyssa Murphy tallied a second point on the night. Pope poked the puck away from a Nichols skater and sent the puck to Alyssa Murphy, who had a step on the Nichols defender. Murphy skated in, deked left, and then pulled the puck back to the right and slotted it right past the goalie. The Golden Bears now had a commanding three-goal lead with just over nine minutes left in the second period. That was Murphy's sixth goal of the season. Finally, just as the period looked to be coming to an end, Nichols got on the board. Avery Moriarty caused WNE to lose the puck and got the puck to Grace Melanson. Melanson skated into the WNE defensive zone and sent a wrister past Jessie-Gerelli. It pinged off the pipe and into the back of the net. That goal made it 3-1, and that's how it stayed for the last 33 seconds of the second period. The second period saw Jessie-Gerelli make ten saves and Bakopanos make five saves. 

Grace Wiggett opened the third period with a faceoff win, and then a minute into the period, Nichols went on the power play. The Golden Bear defense was not messing around, as they took multiple blocks and did not let a shot get to Jessie-Gerelli for the entire power play. Maddie Pope would get the puck from Tucker with just over seven minutes left to play. Pope had Murphy on the left side of the net; Pope sent the pass over, received it back, and pushed it up and over the goalie's pad to put the WNE lead back up to three. The Golden Bears were up 4-1. Other than a WNE power play to finish up the game, that is how the game would finish up. The Golden Bears completed the regular season sweep of Nichols. Jessie-Gerelli was credited with 36 saves on the night, and Bakopanos made 25. 

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears welcomed the Bison of Nichols College to town for a Friday night CCC matchup.
• Brie Dube scored the first goal of the night 2:20 into the first period. Alyssa Murphy and Maddie Tucker got the assists.
• Maggie Holt got the second goal 8:20 into the second period. Brie Dube was credited with the assist.
• Alyssa Murphy got goal number three for the Golden Bears. Maddie Pope got the puck to Murphy and was credited with the assist.
• Grace Melanson got Nichols on the board with 33 seconds left in the second period. Avery Moriarty got the assist.
• Maddie Pope made the game 4-1 at 12:51 into the final period of play. Maddy Tucker and Alyssa Murphy got the assists. 
• The Golden Bears won 4-1!

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears head out to Curry College for a 3:00 pm matchup with the Colonels tomorrow, February 11.
• The Bison will return home to welcome in UNE. That game will occur on Saturday, February 11, at 4:40 pm.