Framingham, MA --- Framingham State junior Brendan McCarron (Millbury, MA/St. John's) potted two goals as he helped pace the Rams to a 4-2 victory over Worcester State this evening in MASCAC men's ice hockey action at Loring Arena.

With the win, Framingham State improves to 9-8-4 (7-5-3 MASCAC) while the Lancers fall to 8-11-1 and 4-9-1 in league action.

After there was no scoring in the opening frame, WSU junior Andrew Bates (Marblehead, MA/Boston Jr Bulldogs) wristed in his eighth marker of the season with an assist from senior Derek Serbon (Crown Point, IN/Tulsa Rampage) at the 5:26 mark of the second period for the 1-0 edge following a Rams turnover in the neutral zone.

But Framingham State tallied three consecutive goals near the midway point of the second to take over the 3-1 lead over a three minute span.

Freshman Andrew Mathieu (Manchester, NH/Mass Mariners) scooped in his first of the season and McCarron lit up the siren with his 12th off of back-to-back power play opportunities before senior Daniel Roy (Billerica, MA/Eastern Jr. Huskies) tallied his second for the eventual game-winner at 13:23.

Bates, however, helped give the Lancers some life with his team-best ninth marker of the campaign off a short-handed tally with just 29 ticks remaining in the middle frame.

McCarron though gave his team some much-needed breathing room with his 13th of the season early on in the third frame at 5:57 for the 4-2 score.

The Lancers did everything they could in the final period as they nearly doubled-up their opponents in shots (15-8), had a pair of power play opportunities and pulled their net minder in the final 1:28 of game play.

The visitors were also blanked by senior Nick Cafrelli (San Jose, CA/Minnesota Owls) who turned aside all 15 bids he saw in the stanza.

Cafrelli collected 29 saves to improve his record to 8-8-3. Sophomore Salvatore Tecci (Franklin, MA/Long Beach Bombers) stopped 40 shots in the setback while he dropped to 5-7-1 on the campaign.

Framingham State held the 44-31 margin in shots and went 3-for-4 with the extra man advantage.

WSU did not convert any of their three power play chances, but Bates did tally a short-handed goal to end the second period to help the visitors kill off a major penalty.

Both teams will play rescheduled opponents in the next week. Worcester State takes on Fitchburg State on Monday at 2 PM in a road matchup while the Rams entertain Salem State on Tuesday at 4:50.

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