WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University Lancers battled with the undefeated Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) team, the Plymouth State Panthers, Thursday evening at the Hart Recreational Center on the campus of Holy Cross, only to fall 3-1. With the loss, the Lancers drop to 2-7-1 (0-4-1 MASCAC) and the Panthers improve to 7-1-0, maintaining a perfect 5-0-0 MASCAC record thus far this season.
After a scoreless first period the Panthers jumped on the board with a power play goal. At 8:18 into the period, Michael Economos (Crystal Lake, Ill) shot from the half board where the Lancers net minder deflected it aside. Plymouth's Dan Dupell (Collegeville, Pa) picked up the rebound and tapped the puck past the diving goalie to give the Panthers the 1-0 lead.
The Panthers were not done scoring in the second period as about six minutes later Dupell struck again. Chris Zuccaro (Hudson, N.H.) received a pass in the right corner and somehow found a way to get loose. He found Dupell open at the top of the faceoff circle and dished out a tape to tape pass. Dupell decided to twist around and rip a snap shot over the goalie's glove side shoulder and beat him with a bar down goal to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
At the beginning of the third period the Lancers showed true heart and determination as they clawed their way back to within one. At 5:55 the blue and gold finally struck with a beautiful 2 on 1 goal. John Skarlis (Waterloo, IA) saucered a perfect pass right on the tape of the flying Alex Dewitz (Oronoco, MN) who tapped the puck under the diving Gordon Ceaser (Oak Park, CA) and made the score 2-1 Plymouth.
The Lancers controlled the puck possession in the third period but it did not stop the Panthers from scoring another goal. Erik Strom (Gothenburg, Sweden) passed the puck to Ludvig Steenburg (Stockholm, Sweden) at the top of the slot who then ripped a powerful shot through the Lancer defense and past the Lancer netminder to take the 3-1 victory.
The Lancers' freshman goaltender, Max Kirkwood (Brunswick, Ohio), kept the Lancers in the game for quite some time as he registered 21 saves and allowed the three goals against. Plymouth State's Ceaser took the win for the Panthers as he totaled 16 saves on the evening.
Both teams combined for 38 penalty minutes, 24 of which came late in the third period.
The Lancers will look to end their six game losing streak as they take on MASCAC opponent, Salem State, this Saturday (Dec. 5) on the road. The Panthers will also resume play on the same day, as they will entertain Westfield State at their home rink.
Release written by Connor Haynes, Sports Information Intern