WESTFIELD, Mass. – Senior forward Dalton Jay (Hamilton, Ont.) netted a hat trick on Senior Night, leading the Westfield State Owls to a 7-2 victory over Worcester State Saturday evening at Amelia Park Ice Arena.

Jay scored all three of his goals during a five-goal second period, as the Owls jumped out to a 6-0 lead. The speedster's first goal came on a breakaway two minutes into the frame, on assists from defenseman Sam Quaranta (Niagara Falls, Ont.) and Lenny Caglianone (Matawan, N.J.).

After a Wyatt Trumbley goal 30 seconds later, Jay beat Lancers goaltender Max Kirkwood (Brunswick, OH) with the backhand on a power play to give Westfield a four-goal lead midway through the period.

Jay's final goal came with 18 seconds remaining in the second, streaking behind the Worcester defense and flicking a wrist shot past Kirkwood glove side for the hat trick and a 6-0 lead.

Jay's second and third goals were sandwiched around a shorthanded goal by freshman forward Aaron Clancy, who skated off the bench and immediately found himself alone with puck behind the Lancers defense.  

Westfield State freshman forward Joseph Napoli (Deer Park, N.Y.) put the Owls on the scoreboard first, striking from the slot 5:35 into the first period. Sophomore forward Roman Pfennings (Grefath, Germany) and freshman defenseman Wyatt Trumbley (Campbell River, B.C.) were credited with the assists.

Senior defenseman Kyllian Kirkwood (Copper Cliff, Ont.) scored Westfield's final goal midway through the third period on an assist from Cody Rich (Ridgecrest, Calif.), putting the Owls ahead 7-0. Kirkwood ranks first in scoring among defenseman since the 2009 season.

Freshman forward Patrick Germain (Auburn, Mass.) finally put Worcester State on the board with four minutes remaining in the third period, beating goaltender Evan Moorhouse (Westfield, Mass.) on a breakaway. Crissostomos Villarreal (Corona, Calif.) added another Lancers goal with 11 seconds remaining.

With the win, Westfield State improves to 12-11, 7-9 in the MASCAC while Worcester State drops to 6-15-1, 3-12 in the MASCAC with the loss. The Lancers return to action on Tuesday (Feb. 16) when they take on Assumption College in non-conference play.

Release Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information