Worcester, MA - The Lancers returned home Friday evening to take on the UMass-Boston Beacons at the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center. Worcester's game-tying goal with 38 seconds to go in regulation kept their hopes alive, but ultimately was not enough against the Beacons in overtime.
FINAL SCORE: Worcester 2, Boston 3 (OT)
SCORING PLAYS:
Period 2 | 13:12 - Boston | Hannah Macdougall, assisted by Allie Reifler & Gabby Shontz
Period 2 | 15:08 - Boston | Emily Hansen, unassisted
Period 3 | 00:35 - Worcester | Ellen Cook, assisted by Lea Gasper & Katie Puumala
Period 3 | 19:22 - Worcester | Cassidhe Wozniak, assisted by Kylian Kelly & Clare Conway
Overtime | 01:17 - Boston | Cailey Kozich, assisted by Katie Wilbert & Gabby Shontz
The first period saw both teams go scoreless, with Boston leading in shots on net at 17, while Worcester recorded five. Boston's Hannah Macdougall and Emily Hansen led the Beacons with three shots each, while graduate forward Clare Conway (Billerica, MA) recorded two for the Lancers.
Both Macdougall and Hansen would then net a goal each late in the 2nd period, handing the Beacons a 2-0 lead heading into the final twenty minutes of regulation.
Worcester's offense lit up just seconds into the 3rd period with a shot from junior forward Ellen Cook (Becket, MA), with help from senior forward Katie Puumala (Framingham, MA) and first-year defender Lea Gasper (Chelmsford, MA). A series of shots from both ends followed as the clock winded down, putting the pressure on Worcester to find another opportunity. The Lancers made several efforts within the final seconds and fired one in the net once more playing on a 6-4 advantage after pulling senior goalie Amber Lee (Fairlawn, NJ) on a late power play advantage, The tying goal was netted from senior forward Cassidhe Wozniak (Turners Falls, MA) to bring the score even and send the Beacons and Lancers to overtime. Wozniak's game-tying goal was assisted by Conway and graduate defender Kylian Kelly (Shrewsbury, MA).
Worcester's comeback fell just short as Boston's Cailey Kozich's goal one minute into overtime sealed the victory for the Beacons.
Conway finished the game alongside first-year forward Jennarae Bateman (Forest Lake, MN) as Worcester's shot leaders with five each, while Hansen and Kozich led Boston with 6 each.
In goal for the Lancers, Lee recorded a total of 32 saves on 35 shots, while Leah Bosch saved 24 shots out of 26 for the Beacons.
This brings Worcester to a 5-4 record, while Boston improves to 5-5.
The Blue & Gold are back in action at home next weekend for their final two matches of 2022, starting with a showdown with Salem State. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:10pm. #WeAreWorcester