By Ryan Allen Wight, Copyeditor
Western New England University Women’s Ice Hockey played their first game of all time last Friday, October 29, and they came out swinging. Before the game, #10 Abby Hay faced off against an Anna Maria player while President Johnson dropped the ceremonial first puck. Then, the competition began.
This was undoubtedly an epic first game. Western New England University students steadily filtered into the stands, bringing anticipation and sparkling energy with them. By the fifth minute, the house was filling fast — and just in time, too.
In the sixth minute of the first period, #11 Natalie Parker scores our first Women’s Hockey goal of all time! With an assist from Hay, Parker chips the puck into the right side of the net. The energy erupts!
The audience leaps to raucous applause with palpable excitement; the team celebrates and Parker pumps her fists, later recalling that at the time she thought the team was “gonna fall over in the huddle.” Our momentum would only grow, and the quick first goal spurred aggressive play in Western New England University’s Women’s Hockey players.
The puck flies toward Anna Maria’s net, but no time to regroup is allowed — #24 Erin McGlynn bears down on the defense, clapping her stick on the ice. Time is running out in the first period; #19 Maddy Tucker careens down the right flank fast enough to make every spectator back away from the plastic, touching the puck back to #25 Amelia Brown, who puts it on net.
The score is one to zero; Western New England University leads and keeps the pressure on going into the second period. #28 Allison Walker stays persistent in the offensive zone, while Hay continually presses the left flank and volleys shots at the top corners of the net.
In the middle of the second period, #20 Emma Birmingham connects with #21 Sydney Conte, who almost scores. Less than a minute later, #12 Julia Roman puts the puck on net all the way back from the blue line.
Finally, #9 Kelly Yorkey sends a shot right down the middle and scores, putting the score at 2-0. Western New England University continues to shut down Anna Maria. At the end of the second period, Murphy shoots from the top of the offensive zone, and Hay tips it in the net for a third goal.
In the third period, our hockey women officially park the car and remove the spark plug when Murphy chips in the fourth goal! The first game ends triumphantly and sets the tone for what promises to be a historic first Women’s hockey season.
Reflecting on the team’s mindset going into their first game, #6 Helen Gillespy remarked that “there were nerves and excitement,” but because “we got some of our jitters out in our exhibition game,” the team was confident and ready to play!
And the team’s confidence and preparation were evident. Addressing her goal, Parker emphasized the importance of the team and its achievements: “It didn’t even matter who scored it… [the puck] went from the goalie to the defense to the offense.” Everything is a team effort, and Parker expressed her excitement for when the team really gets in its groove over the next few weeks.
Western New England University played Anna Maria twice this weekend, beating them 4-0 both nights. Hay adds that these first two games were a “really good start,” and she is “looking forward to playing in-Conference games,” the first two of which are against Curry this weekend, November 5 and 6, both at 7 p.m. at Canton Ice House and Olympia Ice Center, respectively. So show up and support our new Women’s Hockey team!
