Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Women's Ice Hockey team (6-12-1, 4-1-1) returns to ECHA action tonight at the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center as they host the Rivier Raiders (7-8-3, 2-2-2) in a Friday night showdown. As the Lancers move into the final six game, all conference slates, they are working to snag their third consecutive top seed into the ECHA tournament. In their previous match ups this season the teams walked away with a 2-2 tie and a 7-0 victory for Worcester State.

Final

Worcester State: 1

Rivier: 2

How it Happened:

In a pivotal matchup, the Rivier University Raiders would win the faceoff to begin the game and carry the initial momentum of the game. Just five minutes later, the Raiders would be awarded their first of numerous power plays. Worcester would settle after the first power play, preventing Rivier from gaining much traction in period. Worcester would claim two more penalties on the period, but their stalwart defense would keep Rivier off the board and minimal in their attacking action.

As the final seconds clicked towards intermission senior Cassidhe Wozniak (Turner Falls, MA) would break down the side ice looking to grab a tie breaking a goal before the break, but the buzzer would stall the attempt and push off the cause until the second period.

At the end of the first, both terms would go into the locker room scoreless. Worcester State would end the first period with 11 shots, while the Rivier Raiders would end with 6. 

The second period would open to an even battle between the teams as each skater on the ice looked to find the gap needed to put their team ahead. The Lancers began to find their offensive groove, peppering shots at the cage, but were unable to crack the needed sequence to find the puck in the back of the net. Worcester's pressure would bear fruit nearly five minutes into the game when a lost stick and slash would see the Lancers awarded their first power play of the game. A mis-calculation on the ice though would see the control shift and Rivier grabbing another penalty opportunity. The Lancer defense would again pull a force to be reckoned with, closing out their fourth man-down situation. With the killing of another power play the intensity in the rink would rise as the teams looked to capitalize on each steal and interception. 

The Lancers would go on to regain control of the period with 10 minutes remaining, firing shot after shot, but a forcefield around the cage would see the puck fail to break the plane. The Lancer Game crowd was making the most of each opportunity, with waves of oohs and ahhs, in a bid to drive Worcester on to the first goal of the game. As the final minutes registered, the intensity and physicality were rampant across the ice and while Worcester found their shooting strength, they were, as of yet, unable to find the secret to junior Rachel Hinkley (Swedesboro, NJ). 

Worcester would grab 28 more shots in the period, as they worked out their offensive formula with senior Amy MacGlashing (Marlborough, MA) recording 7 shots in the period. 

The passion brewing in the second period would take center stage in the final period of regulation. From the first puck drop, each team battled for the upper hand, refusing to give an inch on the ice as they looked for the goal that could bring them the win. A penalty with just over 16 minutes to go would give Worcester their first set advantage of the period, moving the puck around the zone for chance after chance, but Hinkley was indefatigable as she knocked attempt after attempt away. Rivier would get their own chance just minutes after the return to full strength with another Lancers miscommunication seeing them down a skater. While Rivier would work to find some chances, the Lancers were equally strong in finding their own threats on the power play to see nearly half the period tick away with the game still 0-0. 

A second power play opportunity for Worcester would go the way of the first, as Rivier turned away each threat. With another missed chance, Worcester was not about to let the score stand at 0, as graduate student Shelby Reaugh (Raleigh, NC) would snag a pass from first year Kelly Lovett (Peabody, MA) and slide her away across the cage, to sneak behind the keeper for a tucked in first goal of the game. The energy in the rink hit pitch as Rivier responded minutes later with a quick deflection goal by sophomore Caeli Reed (Norwood, MA) off the pass from fellow sophomore Olivia Schultz (Albuquerque, NM). The final minute of action would work to see Worcester reclaim the lead, but the Raider defense would not concede the ground, forcing overtime action.

While the Lancers were able to get a few decent chances in the five minutes of extra action it was the rebounded goal by Rivier with just four seconds remaining that would send the win to the Raiders in the 2-1 victory. 

Sophomore Kelsey Czerniawski (Chicopee, MA)would end the night with 19 saves, while Hinkley would come away with 57 saves in the action. 

Worcester now sit at (6-13-1, 4-2-1) as the Raiders move to (8-8-3, 3-2-2) on the season. Worcester State and Rivier return to action tomorrow when the Raiders host Worcester State at 7pm.