WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University men's ice hockey team closed out its regular season with a 6-3 win over Framingham State on Wednesday afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference action at the Worcester Ice Center.
With the win, the Lancers (14-9-2, 9-7-2 MASCAC) secure the number four seed in the MASCAC Tournament, set to kick off Saturday evening. Framingham State's season comes to a close with a record of 2-22-1 and 0-17-1 record in the MASCAC.
The game was the continuation of a game from February 2, which was suspended late in the first period due to an ice issue at Loring Arena. The game was tied 1-1 with CJ Buckingham (Pembroke, Mass.) scoring the Lancer goal, assisted by Zac McKenna (Powell, Ohio) and Jake Karelas (Melrose, Mass.).
Once play resumed in Worcester, Evan Schieber (Macon, Ga.) scored with 2:35 remaining in the first to give the Lancers their first lead of the contest at 2-1. Seniors Mitch Purdie (Peterborough, Ont.) and Cody Weaver (West Greenwich, R.I.) grabbed assists on Schieber's tally.
Just over eight minutes into the second, Purdie found the back of the net for his ninth goal of the season to extend Worcester State's lead to 3-1. On a 4-on-2 up ice for the Lancers, sophomore Matthew Manning (Novi, Mich.) saucered a pass to Purdie streaking the slot, who, in one motion, laced a shot past the blocker of Framingham's Greg Harney.
Under two minutes later, Framingham State's Michael Gennello cut Worcester State's lead in half with his fourth goal of the season, scooping up his own rebound and sliding it into the net.
Schieber's second goal of the game, this time at the 13:59 mark of the second, gave the Lancers a two-goal lead again at 4-2. A beautiful back door pass from Manning found Schieber all alone in front of the net with a wide open cage, and the rookie made no mistake in tallying his second of the game. Purdie received a secondary assist on the goal.
Freshman defenseman Steven Tettoni (Gloucester, Mass.) netted his second goal of the season off a rebound five minutes into the third to extend Worcester State's lead to 5-2. Framingham's Walker Hamilton cut the lead back to two just over two minutes later, but the Lancers refused to bend any further. An empty-netter from junior Nick Patullo (Doylestown, Pa.) sealed the deal with 20 seconds remaining, as the Lancers secured the win.
Josh Reinstein (Woodland Hills, Calif.) got his second win of the season between the pipes, making 30 saves, 14 of which in the third period. Harney took the loss, allowing five goals and making 28 saves.
Worcester State will next play on Saturday evening in the first round of the MASCAC Tournament. The Lancers will host Fitchburg State at the Worcester Ice Center, with opening puck drop slated for 5:40 p.m.
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