Auburn, MA --- Plymouth State sophomore Zach Fox (Sandown, NH/New England Wolves) netted the eventual game-clinching marker and he also added three assists to help lead the Panthers past Worcester State, 5-3, in MASCAC men's ice hockey action this evening at Horgan Rink.
Plymouth State (3-4, 2-2 MASCAC) jumped out to the early one-goal advantage when sophomore Andrew Wigg (Lantz, Nova Scotia/Yarmouth Mariners) found the back of the net from the left side of the crease at 5:32 of the opening frame.
The Panthers doubled their margin early in the second period as second-year Josh Woody (Sunderland, MD/Valley Jr. Warriors) lit the lamp using the man advantage at the 2:29 mark for the 2-0 edge.
Worcester State (3-3-1, 0-3-1 MASCAC) responded quickly as senior Derek Serbon (Crown Point, IN/Tulsa Rampage) let loose from the right circle to beat the goalie glove side just 78 ticks later cutting the deficit in half.
The Lancers continued their momentum into the third stanza and potted the equalizer at the 4:58 mark when sophomore Cody Brier (Marlboro, MA/Assabet Valley) registered a power-play goal for the 2-2 score.
Plymouth State once again used the extra man to their advantage regaining the lead when junior Mike Freitag (Westmont, IL/Valley Jr. Warriors) collected his second goal of the campaign at the 9:54 mark for the 3-2 edge.
Fox then hit home the eventual game-winner just 32 seconds later as he corralled a loose puck that was mishandled in front of the net for the 4-2 score.
The Blue and Gold wasted little time taking advantage of the open ice with a four-on-four tally when junior Andrew Pierson (Clovis, CA/Fresno Monsters) snuck one past PSU's netminder at the 16:48 mark, making it a one-goal contest.
The Panthers answered the call again, just 20 ticks off the clock when senior Phil Arnone (Litchfield, NH/Winchendon School) added an insurance goal for the final score.
Plymouth State senior Tyler Ingerson (Concord, NH/New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs) stopped 23 shots to improve his record to 3-4 while WSU sophomore Salvatore Tecci (Franklin, MA/Long Beach Bombers) registered 43 saves in the setback falling to 2-2-1 on the season.
The Panthers doubled up the hosts in shots on goal (48-24), but only converted two of their ten attempts with the extra attacker. WSU was 1-for-3 on the power play in the contest.
The Lancers return to action on Saturday when they host Nichols to kick-off the Worcester City Shootout at 4:45 PM as Plymouth State returns home to face-off with Framingham State Thursday night at 6 PM.
Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant
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