Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Men's Ice Hockey team (5-13-0, 4-10-0) wraps up their three game series of the season this afternoon when they host the #15 Plymouth State Panthers (15-1-2, 12-0-2) in MASCAC play. The Lancers have lost the last two matchups this year and look to deal Plymouth their first conference loss of the season.
Final:
Worcester State: 0
Plymouth State: 7
How it Happened:
The first period saw an electric opening for both teams, unfortunately for the Lancers, Plymouth State found a way to score early, sending one past junior Wayne Friedlander (Lake Placid, NY) within the opening two minutes. The addition of senior Mikey Wilson (Alexandria, VA), who has been missing from the ice for a number of games this season, has had a noticeable impact for the team. Wilson's natural energetic ability to drive through the neutral zone and generate offense was an added bonus in the opening period. With about 10 minutes left in the period, the Lancers had a near miss at their own goal when a shot by graduate student Brendan Ronan (Saugus, MA) hit the post and sailed away from the cage. Worcester would continue going back and forth with the Panthers in terms of chance creation but a quick counter in the final three minutes of the period saw the Lancers with a 2 goal deficit. A late power play opportunity for Worcester would give them another high percentage chance at their own goal, but while the Worcester shots were strong and on mark, the Plymouth defense was quick to block up the attempts. Worester would head into the first break in play primed to cut into the goal differential.
Two early penalties, one after the other, would put Worcester in a tough spot to start the second period. Spending the majority of the opening five minutes at a skater disadvantage. Plymouth would capitalize, scoring their third goal of the game. Just about a minute later, Plymouth would return down the ice to record goal number four. Worcester State would not concede the period easily though, as Wilson and Ronan worked to pepper the Panthers Brandon Shantz. The hard work paid off in the 10' minute of the period when Plymouth was called on a tripping penalty, the advantage was short lived though , with a Lancers being called for tripping and then hooking to send the advantage back to Plymouth. The Lancers defense was on point during the stretch, shutting down the Panthers every chance. The final minutes of the period would see the Panthers again with the advantage, but again the Worcester defense stepped up and prevented any further damage to the score. Wrapping up the period would see Worcester State awarded with a power play opportunity that they would carry into the third period of action, with the score settled at 4-0.
The third period would be wrought with high emotion as Plymouth looked to close out the game while Worcester worked to put a dent into the lead. A Panthers fifth goal would make the challenge harder and only elevated the intensity of the period that would see a major penalty on Plymouth and a player. Removed from the ice. With the emotions high and the Lancers being daring on the advantage, Plymouth would grab a loose puck for a short handed goal number 6 on the game. As the final minutes of the period clicked down Worcester would rally their defensive pressure to force Plymouth into their end but the Panthers would counter their pressure and work the puck around the zone and into the cage for their seventh and final goal of the game.
Friedlander would end the game with 47 saves for the Lancers.
Worcester State now moves to (5-14-0, 4-11-0) on the season while Plymouth sits at (16-1-1, 13-0-2). Worcester State will return to action on Thursday February 1st with a 7:40pm rematch with the Framingham State Rams.