CNE CHAMPIONSHIP: DiNardo's OT Game-Winner Clinches Gulls' Second Straight Title

BEVERLY, Mass. — Endicott junior forward Maddie DiNardo (Topsfield, Mass.) scored 6:19 into overtime to give No. 13 Women's Ice Hockey back-to-back Conference of New England (CNE) Championships. The Gulls defeated Western New England, 1-0, in the championship game on Saturday afternoon at Raymond J. Bourque Arena.

DiNardo collected a pass from Ella Rago (Westford, Mass.) in her own zone and skated the length of the ice, beating the Golden Bears' goalie five-hole with a wrist shot from the left circle for her second career game-winning goal.

Rago sparked the transition via an off-target shot from the left point that ricocheted to her on the boards.

Lauren Ferrari (Bridgewater, N.J.) was named the CNE Tournament Most Outstanding Player (MOP). The sophomore goalie recorded back-to-back shutouts, stopping 35 shots across the two games.

In today's contest, Ferrari made 18 saves to record her seventh shutout of the season (13-2-1 overall | 21-4-2 career | 11th career shutout).

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Endicott leads the all-time series 11-4-2.
• First-ever meeting in the conference championship between the two programs.
• Endicott captured its fifth conference championship (2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22, 2024-25, 2025-26).
• Western New England made its second conference championship appearance today (1-1 overall).
• All skaters for the Gulls registered a shot on goal in the matchup.

WHAT'S NEXT

No. 13 Endicott (21-4-2) has earned the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

The Gulls will learn their postseason fate via the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on Sunday, March 8 at 8:30 PM (EST).

Western New England sees its 2025-26 season come to a close at 18-8-1. 

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)