WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State's Connor McKenzie (Nashville, Tenn.) scored two goals in the Lancers' 4-1 win over cross-divisional opponents, Assumption College, Tuesday (Nov. 29) evening inside the Hart Recreation Center.
The first period opened to back-and-forth play as each team saw several opportunities to score, but neither was able to find the back of the net. Worcester State had an optimal chance when it appeared they had scored with seven minutes remaining in the stanza, but the ruling on the ice was that there was no goal.
The second period proved to be the action period as three goals were scored. The Greyhounds reached the scoreboard in the 4th minute of the second period when Dante Tomassini (N. Branford, Conn.) received quick passes from both Brian Farrell (Island Park, N.Y.) and Mike Sorenti (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) on a power play, in turn, shooting the puck in between Worcester's goaltender's legs for the first lead of the game.
It wasn't until the 14th minute in the second period that Worcester got on the board as McKenzie scored on a slapshot to the left side of the net, knotting the score at 1-1. Worcester State added another in before the end of the period to take their first lead of the game on a goal from Nick Patullo (Doylestown, Pa.), assisted by Mitchell Purdie (Cavan, Ont.).
Going into the third stanza up 2-1, Worcester State increased their lead eight minutes in when McKenzie scored his second goal of the game on a power play opportunity. McKenzie scooped up the puck following touches from Patullo and Stephen Zabrowski (Pocono Pines, Pa.) and sunk it into the back of the goal, swooping past Assumption's goaltender's right hip.
With the clock winding down, Assumption took a chance and pulled goaltender Robbie Campbell (Raritan, N.J.) with two minutes remaining. However, just seconds after the Greyhounds emptied the net, Worcester State's Andy DeAngelis (Poughquag, N.Y.) directed the puck from the Lancers' defensive zone straight down the open ice and landed into the goal to generate the 4-1 final score.
Worcester State's first year Josh Reinstein (Woodland Hills, Calif.) earned his first collegiate victory in net as he stopped 29 shots in a complete game. On the opposing end, Assumption's Campbell suffered his first collegiate loss registering 27 saves in 59:49 played.
Worcester State (2-5-1) returns to action on Thursday (Dec. 1) when they travel to Plymouth State for a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) matchup. The Greyhounds (2-8-1) resume play on Saturday (Dec. 3) when they host Stonehill in 6:35 p.m. a conference game.