PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The fourth-seeded Worcester State University men's ice hockey team fell 6-1 to #1 Plymouth State University in the semifinals of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Tuesday evening at Hanaway Rink.
With the loss, the Lancers see their season come to an end with an overall record of 15-10-2. The 15 wins is tied for second all-time for wins in a season, following the 1971-72 season that saw the Lancers go 21-3. Plymouth State advances to the MASCAC Championship game.
Plymouth State took a 1-0 lead into the locker room, after Tim Perron scored on the power play at the 5:25 mark to put the hosts on the board first. Worcester State got great puck movement on a pair of first period power plays, but could not capitalize.
The second period was all Panthers right from the start. Worcester State couldn't kill off a late first period too many men on the ice penalty, as Plymouth State made it 2-0 59 seconds into the second. Plymouth State didn't let its foot off the gas the rest of the period, outscoring the Lancers by a margin of 5-0 in the frame to take a 6-0 lead into the locker room for the second intermission.
Sophomore Matthew Manning (Novi, Mich.) ended the shutout midway through the third, scoring his 12th goal of the season. Breaking in on a 1-on-1, Manning's wrist shot ramped up off the defenseman's stick and over the shoulder of a frozen Evan Morelli to put Worcester State on the board. Seniors Mike Moran (Milford, Mass.) and Mitch Purdie (Peterborough, Ont.) grabbed assists on the goal.
Freshman Ryan Hoff (Brockton, Mass.) finally got his first collegiate loss in the outing, making 14 saves before getting pulled early in the second period. In relief, sophomore Aaron Callan (South Lyon, Mich.) made 12 saves and allowed two goals.
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