WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University men's ice hockey team erased a three goal deficit Thursday night to defeat UMass Dartmouth 5-3 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference action at the Worcester Ice Center.

With the win, Worcester State improves to 3-1-0 on the season, and stays perfect in the MASCAC at 2-0-0. UMass Dartmouth drops to 1-2-0 and 1-1-0 in conference play.

The Corsairs got off to a furious start, with three goals in the game's first 13 minutes to take a 3-0 lead. Worcester State got on the board less than a minute after UMass Dartmouth's third goal, when sophomore Nick Pennucci (Worcester, Mass.) found classmate Will Ahearn (Charlestown, Mass.) coming down the slot. Ahearn one-timed a shot past UMass Dartmouth's Daniel Davidson for Worcester State's first goal of the contest.

With less than a minute remaining in the period, freshman Kevin Drevitch (Oxford, N.J.) batted home a goal on the rebound to send the teams into the locker room with the Corsairs ahead 3-2.

Sophomore Brian Smith (Dracut, Mass.) found the back of the net twice in the first seven and a half minutes of the second period to give the Lancers their first lead of the night. 

Just over six minutes into the third, junior Jake Karelas (Melrose, Mass.) extended Worcester's lead to 5-3 by sending a slapper past the Corsair goaltender's glove. 

UMass Dartmouth would make a push with their goalie pulled late, but couldn't find the back of the net as the Lancers completed the comeback with a home-opening victory.

Smith was named the game's number one star with a pair of goals, including the game-winner. Karelas, with a goal, five blocked shots, and a +2 rating was the game's second star, while goalie Ryan Hoff (Brockton, Mass.) was named the game's third star with 35 saves.

Worcester State will be back in action on Saturday evening with a road trip to Framingham State. Puck drop is slated for 7:40 p.m.

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