Worcester, MA- After a hard battle to kick off the season versus Nichols College on Friday night in the opening game of the WOOCup, the Worcester State Men's Ice Hockey team (0-1-0, 0-0-0) is right back in action to take on Assumption University in the Consolation match. The meeting will be the first meeting between the teams in two years, and the first of the NE10 matches for the Lancers this season.

Final

Worcester State: 4

Assumption: 2

How it Happened:

The first period of action between the Greyhounds and Lancers was a full intensity affair from both sides. Worcester would be the first to the punch as they opened up scoring under four minutes into the action when junior Anders Gronstad (Royal Oak, MI) would corral a puck off a defenders stick right before the blue line and turn and return the puck into the crease and past Greyhounds keeper senior Michael Hauswirth (Lincoln, RI). Assumption would look to respond quickly, sending a flurry of attempts at senior Wyatt Friedlander (Lake Placid, NY) but his quick reactions would keep Assumption at bay. Worcester would extend their lead in the 15' minute as senior Brigham Neuhold (Edmond, OK) would settle the pass from first year Frederic Pinel (Beaumont, ON) as they scrummed in front of the cage, before drifting to the right and launching his attempt past Hauswirth. Assumption was finally able to muster their offensive striking power as  junior Ryan Decker (Southborough, MA) would send sophomore Jonathan Surrette pass into the cage to cut into the Lancer lead and push the score to 2-1 into the first intermission. 

While the intensity did not decrease in the second period, each team's defense took it to another level. Worcester, led in the back by Friedlaner making breakaway saves and sliding catches, would keep the Greyhounds from adding anything additional to the board. The downside for Worcester was Assumption rose to meet their offensive challenges and blocked each of the Lancer power play attempts to keep a 2-1 game into the second intermission.  

The third period found both teams upping the ante in the battle for the rink, but the stellar defense would continue on both sides of the puck. Each team was on point but in the 16' minute of the third, Worcester got their needed breathing room when graduate student Brian Clougherty (Lynn, MA) would send in a quick wrister off the passing sequences of seniors Cody Porcello (Melrose, MA) and Matt Kowal (Monson, MA). Worcester would aim to put the game away as the Greyhounds would opt to pull their goalie for the remainder of the match. Worcester would look to have the game sewn up with under a minute to go when a rare breakdown on define on the day would see junior Jake DiNapoli (North Reading, MA) take the puck off Friedlander's stick in his bed to send the puck down the ice, slotting the shot past to ring the score to 3-2. Worcester was not willing to see the game go into overtime though as they responded seconds later with another Neuhold shot, this time on the empty net of Assumption to reclaim a two goal lead and the 4-2 victory.

Friedlander would make 55 saves on the night while Hauswirth would claim 27 in the action. 

What's Next:

Worcester State (1-1-0, 0-0-0) will have a few days off from game play before they return to action next Friday when they host Morrisville at 5pm on Friday, November 8th.