Worcester, MA --- Plymouth State junior Josh Woody (Suderland, MD/Valley Jr Warriors) netted the eventual game-clinching tally with 3:30 on the clock in the second period as he helped pace the Panthers to a 3-2 victory over Worcester State in MASCAC men's ice hockey action this evening at the Hart Recreation Center.

With the win the Panthers move to 7-7-3 overall and remain atop the conference standings at 7-2-1. In the setback, the Lancers fall to 3-11-1 and 2-7-1 in league play.

Sophomore Dan Dupell (Collegeville, PA/Port Huron Fighting Falcons) put the visitors on the board first with 12:58 off the clock in the opening frame. His score right in front of the net off of a major penalty was assisted by senior Mike Freitag (Westmont, IL/Valley Jr Warriors) and junior Andrew Wigg (Lantz, Nova Scotia/Yarmouth Mariners).

The Blue and Gold came right back and equalized the score 1-1 just before time expired in the first period. Senior Nathan Stanley (Meridian, ID/Idaho Jr. Steelheads) caught the glance of an initial shot by classmate Vinny Bohn (Spring Hill, FL/El Paso Rhinos) with 37 ticks left in the frame and just two seconds left on a power play.

Plymouth State hit home a pair of goals two minutes apart to take over the 3-1 margin in the latter half of the second period.

Sophomore Tord Thoreson (Oppegard, Norway/New England Wolves) put the Panthers ahead by one goal with a shot from the left dot to the left corner with some help by Wigg and Freitag before Woody slipped one past WSU freshman net minder Tyler Fallica (Coram, NY/Ogden Mustangs) for a key insurance marker.

The Lancers had chances with an extra man on the ice in the beginning and midway through the third, but could not take advantage of the opportunity.

With time winding down in the period, the hosts pulled their goalie and found success with an extra attacker as senior Andrew Bates (Marblehead, MA/Boston Jr Bulldogs) received aid on the play from senior Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA/Fresno Monsters) and sophomore Michael Dery (Grand Rapids, MI/Ogden Mustangs) with one minute left.

As 32 seconds remained on the clock in regulation in regulation, junior Alex Taddeo (Franklin, MA/Boston Jr. Rangers) fired one in from the top of the point and senior Stephen Rock (Tulsa, OK/Idaho Jr Steelheads) tried again on the ricochet, but they were both turned aside by junior Gordon Ceasar (Oak Park, CA/Utica College).

Ceasar (6-4-3) stopped 17 shots in the victory while Fallica collected 22 saves in 58:57 minutes of action.

Plymouth State was 1-for-6 on power plays while the Lancers only converted 25 percent of their chances (1-for-4). The Panthers led in shots, 25-19.

Both squads return to MASCAC play over the next week. Worcester State will play Salem State on Saturday at 2 PM while Plymouth State entertains Framingham State on Thursday at the Hanaway Rink in a 6 o'clock match-up.