Auburn, MA --- Senior Tim D'Orazio (Jamison, PA) tallied two goals and an assist to help Worcester State defeat Suffolk, 7-4, in the opening round of the Pepperidge Farm Face Off Classic this evening at Horgan Memorial Rink. 

The Lancers (1-0) will face Western New England in the championship game on Saturday at 7:30 PM after the Golden Bears stymied Johnson and Wales, 5-2, in their opening round game. The Wildcats and Rams will play in the consolation matchup at 4:30.

D'Orazio started the game's scoring when he netted his first goal at 5:28 of the opening period getting assists from freshman Brenton Dyok (Rocklin, CA) and junior Smbat Defterderian (Arleta, CA). 

Suffolk (2-1) answered 33 seconds later when sophomore Ryan DesRoches (Salem, NH) scored his second goal of the season from an assist by freshman Chris Rettig (Raynham, MA).

With a man in the penalty box, WSU took advantage of a bad turnover in Suffolk's defensive zone and sophomore Derek Serbon (Crown Point, IN) put the Lancers ahead on the unassisted goal. 

As they did on their first marker, Suffolk answered immediately when sophomore Jon Stauffer (Lansdale, PA) scored a power-play goal, 34 seconds after the WSU tally, tying the game at 2-2.  Junior Andrew Flynn (Stamford, CT) and sophomore Charlie McGinnis (Hanover, MA) assisted on the goal.

The Blue and Gold gained the 3-2 lead they would never relinquish at 17:38 of the first period when Sanborn scored his second goal of the game getting helpers from senior Nick Asterito (Philadelphia, PA) and sophomore Curtis Martin (Okotoks, Alberta).

Worcester State scored two more goals in the second period.  Defterderian scored at 2:37 with assists by Dyok and D'Orazio while sophomore Ryan Quirk (Brockton, MA) netted the game-winning goal, at the 10:43 mark with passes by junior Paul Conceison (Burlington, MA) and freshman Luc Neitenbach (Brighton, CO).

The Rams cut into the Worcester State lead when freshman Scott Mathieu (Taunton, MA) tallied his second goal of the season, with the man-advantage, just one minute after the Quirk goal making the score 5-3.

Both teams performed well on power-plays as Worcester State converted two of their six tries while Suffolk scored two goals on five attempts with the extra man. 

The Rams held the 33-29 shot advantage in the contest including a 12-6 edge in the third period. 

Release By Jim Sarkisian – Sports Information Intern