Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Women's Ice Hockey team (12-13-1, 9-2-1) looks to complete the three peat sweep of the ECHA tournament in the conference's final season of action before the teams move to the MASCAC for the 2024-25 season. The Lancers have won the previous two championships, defeating the Anna Maria AMCATs 2-1 in the inaugural season and 3-2 last year. This championship will see the Lancers square up with a new contender after Rivier (12-10-3, 6-4-2) defeated the AMCATs in overtime on Friday night in a 1-0 battle.
Final- OT
Worcester State: 2
Rivier: 1
How it Happened:
The first period action was a back-and-forth battle between the Raiders and Lancers with neither team managing to find the needed space to knock an opening goal into the action. Rivier is entering the period with three straight periods and overtime action without allowing a goal while the Lancers have also not conceded a goal in three periods of action. Both teams' defenses were stellar at the tail end of the season and were showing their endurance in the opening period. As the Lancers out shot Rivier 10-6. The brightest chance of the period came for the Lancers with just over three minutes to go, when Rivier's junior Brianna Parent (St. Albans, VT) was called for a tripping penalty. Despite numerous chances, Rivier's junior goalie Rachel Hinkley (Swedesboro, NJ) and her power play defensive line were able to keep the Lancers off the scoreboard.
The second period would stand similar to the first as each team opened up the period trading shot for shot. About four minutes into the period the Raider were served with too many skaters on the ice penalty, but their defense was again unmovable, clearing out the Lancers second skater advantage. The Lancers would not another solid opportunity as that until 7 minutes left in the period, when Rivier would be awarded a slashing penalty, but gain almost turned into a loss, when a loose puck at the top of the zone was scooped up by the Raiders resulting on a 2-1 on sophomore goalie Kelsey Czerniawski (Chicopee, MA). Czerniawski made a stellar stick save knocking the puck away but the resulting Rivier pressure ended another Lancers power play advantage without a goal. The Raiders would again threaten with three minutes remaining but another stellar lunging save by Czerniawski would keep the game sitting at 0-0. A Melanson shot with a minute left in the period looked to finally be the needed key, but the Rivier defense made stellar saves on the proceeding plays to extend the shutout for another period.
With the close of the second period, Worcester had recorded 27 shots, while Rivier had 14 on frame.
The third period of action would finally break the scoreless streak as graduate student Katie Puumala would slip the puck past Hinkley for the first goal of the game. Assisting Puumala was sophomore Lea Gaspar (Chelmsford, MA) and first year Caroline Melanson (Wakefield, MA). A few seconds later Rivier would get their own chance to respond after a Lancer penalty but Gaspar would nearly make it two for Worcester in a breakaway attempt that fell right into the keeper's pads. Rivier would tie it up with 10 minutes left off a slap shot from Caeli Reed and the energy in the rink amplified as each team looked for their chance to grab the lead. As the final moments ticked away each team looked for their golden chance but neither team was able to find the winner forcing overtime action again for the second game in a row for Rivier.
With just over a minute and half to go in OT, and after numerous missed chances by each team due to stellar goaltending across the pipes, Worcester State first year Fiona Hatton (Homer, AK) scored the game winner off an assist from senior Cassidhe Wozniak (Turner Falls, MA). This goal would clinch Worcester their third straight ECHA title and the title of lone ECHA Champions in the conference.
Worcester State wrapped up their third season with their third conference championship while Czerniawski was named the ECHA MVP of the championship tournament allowing just a single goal in two games.