WORCESTER, Mass.- The Worcester State University men's ice hockey team fell 4-1 Thursday night in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference action against UMass Dartmouth held at Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Arena.
With the loss, the Lancers fall to 9-7-1 overall (5-5-1, MASCAC). The Corsairs advance to 10-8-1 (7-4-1, MACAC).
UMass Dartmouth capitalized off a power play at the 5:20 mark in the first period. Steven Leonard (Rockaway Park, N.Y.) netted a shot with assists from Brendan McDonough (Wilmington, Mass.) and Eric Bolden (Oswego, Ill.) when the puck came off the pads of Josh Reinstein (Woodland Hills, Calif.) from a rebounded shot. The teams continued to skate evenly through the remaining minutes of the first period.
The Lancers were hungry to tie the score up in the second period when after controlling the puck in front of the Corsair net for some time Mitch Purdie (Peterborough, Ont.) finally found the back of the net. He was helped with assists from Matthew Manning (Novi, Mich.) and Matt Roe (Hamlin, N.Y.). The teams skated tied for the remainder of the second period until with six seconds left on the clock Mason Nichols (Oviedo, Fla.) found the back of the net unassisted to put the Corsairs up 2-1 at the end of the second period.
Worcester State fought hard through the third period but was unable to capitalize on their 13 shots. McDonough for the Corsairs put a goal up against the Lancers off an assist from Jimmy Pelton (Syracuse, N.Y.). At the 17:19 mark in the third period Blake Harlow (Pelham, Ala.) put the game out of reach for the Lancers when he found the back of the net off assists from Melker Kroon (Malmo, Sweden) and Dillon Radin (Long Beach, N.Y.).
Reinstein picked up 34 saves in the night despite the loss. Parker Butler (Summit, N.J.) grabbed 29 saves in the UMass Dartmouth win.
Next up, the Lancers head to Fitchburg State on Saturday evening at 5 PM. The Corsairs have off until Wednesday when they also head to Fitchburg State to face the Falcons.
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